position had a good deal to do with it as when one is prepared for the cola

one is less likely to be caught by a sudden drop in the temperature. Now I

regret not having made a proper study of the subject and can only briefly

refer to the general circumstances which prevailed to make this little com-

munity tick with the unhurried measure of a good old grandfather clock into

a healthy and usually serene old age.

‘Human interest which is of the greatest importance was provided by the

family usually with the assistance of good neighbours.

‘Diet, though plain, would be quite substantial with porridge, milk, eggs,

bacon, cheese, fish from the coast,, excellent beef with fresh vegetables, and

soft fruit from the garden which might also support a few hens. Soup wasa

general favourite — broth, potato and lentil.

‘I-lousing was often old-fashioned for some cottages still had earthen floors

simply covered with thick red tiles which meant they were damp. Coal fires

were always used for heating and although box beds had mainly disappeared,

their brick hard hair mattresses were still in evidence.

‘In spite of these Spartan conditions, when the Local Authority built lovely

little bungalows with all mod cons, there was difficulty in persuading these old

people to move into them although they had a say in the design by taking part

in a questionnaire stating what they would like to find in such houses.

‘The water supply was from wells and drainage was by cesspool or garden

pit known as the ‘duffy hole’.

‘Clothing can be described as solid, built on the foundation of the semmit

and topped off with dark windproof serge skirts or trousers, layers of woollies

and a bonnet. Women usually wore a pinafore on top of all this, while the

men could favour a denim jacket. The semmit was a thick flannel undershirt

which had an unfortunate tendency to shrink and could be the cause of painful

backache to the nurse who had to peel it off at bedtime, especially when the

paient suffered from rheumatism. These semmits gre~v to be as close fitting

as an onion skin but were greatly loved for the comfort they bestowed. Injury

to the back was an industrial hazard in District Nursing.

‘In these days of weight watching it may be of interest to record that of

the ten nonogenarians in Strath, four were heavily built as were the others of

great age in the country area round about.

‘This was not a life of idle luxury and it did not vary greatly from the

pattern of living in the country in other parts of Fife and as few people could

boast so many aged people, one must try to seek a reason.

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