Here’s a candid look of staff life at the Douglas, based on excerpts from the 1893 Rules and Regulations of the Protestant Hospital for the Insane:

Staff shall rise at 5:30 a.m. from May to October, and at 6:00 a.m. during the rest of the year. All employees shall promptly observe these hours.

The buildings will close at 10:00 p.m. All employees must be in bed, with their lights out by this time. Any employees absent after 10:00 p.m. must have permission.

Attendants usually get one out of every twenty-eight days off from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Also, every third Sunday will be given, where convenient.

Attendants have certain evenings off from 7:00 p.m. On other evenings, they are off duty at 9:00 p.m., but must not leave the grounds.

In the case of married attendants with families living in the vicinity, all-night permits may be granted on alternate evenings from 7:00 p.m. to the rising hour.

Two weeks will be allowed yearly to each attendant for vacation. The time of taking it will be regulated entirely by the convenience of the institution. Absences beyond that time will be deducted from wages.

All employees’ rooms are to be kept clean and neat, and are subject to official inspection at any time.

Staff are strictly forbidden to:

• whistle
• use profane language
• be vulgar in conversation or behaviour
• gamble
• play games on Sundays
• slam doors
• going about in shirtsleeves (except as required)
• wear hats indoors (men’s rule)

When medical officers or visitors enter any ward, attendants shall promptly rise and open and close all necessary doors for them.

Epileptic patients are…liable to be violent and dangerous in consequence of their disease. They must not go on a ladder or around machinery or water, or anywhere else where a fall would be dangerous to them.

All attendants who take any male patients to the female side of the institution (Perry Pavilion) will be held to the strictest account for their care, and must keep them constantly under their eye. This must never be done except by permission from the superintendent.

Male and female walking parties must not be allowed to mingle. There must be no halting for conversation with persons on the way, and care must be taken that patients do not give to, or receive from anyone, letters or other articles.

Patients are to come and go to the dining rooms together, and the knives and forks are to be gathered up and counted before they leave.

A fine of $2 in each instance will be imposed on all who, through fault or carelessness, allow any patient, for whom they are responsible, to escape.

At all entertainments, church, socials, and the like, attendants must help seat and sit with patients, not congregate together or take the best seats.

At dances, attendants shall help patients to get partners and see that unsuitable persons do not dance together. Employees must not dance together, except at specified times.

Each attendant is to be supplied with a lantern, which has to be kept clean, in readiness for lighting.

From the superintendent down, all should be on alert against fire.