The Lamont Public Hospital

The Lamp is Golden tells the story of the Lamont hospital and its School of Nursing.

The nurse was indeed the mainstay of the hospital in these early years. She not only tended the furnace, she saw that there was an adequate supply of water. The pump and the well did not always function together and when a shortage of water was imminent, she filled enough containers from various sources to carry on. There is a record of at least one complete failure to secure water in the hospital. A bucket brigade was formed, by nurses who were able to be off duty, from a not too near-by well and enough water was had to save the day. There was never a plentiful supply and conservation had to be practised by all.

The nurses made sure the patients had adequate meals too. If necessary they cooked them. All the laundry for the newborn babies was done by the nurse. On occasion she was known to struggle with the harness of a horse, hitch the animal to a buggy and fetch the milk for use in the hospital, this when the milk-man was unable to deliver his product on time.

Graduation was a time when the countryside entered into the celebrations. Invitations were not mailed out, but friends of the graduates and hospital were cordially welcomed to the reception given by the doctor's wives, the graduate nurses of the hospital and those living in the district. The Graduation Exercises were held in the evening in the church, which usually could not accommodate the crowds attending, for the warmth and friendliness shown by the community towards the doctors, nurses and the hospital was then, and still is, something unique.

Regulations for student nurses seemed to be a matter of one girl informing another. There was nothing written down, but one found out that 'in at night' was ten o'clock with lights out at 10:30. Late leaves were granted once a week till 11:30--no sleep outs. No sign-ins or sign-outs, it was strictly an honour system and seldom abused. The morning bell was rung by the night nurse at 6:00 o'clock (she used the same 'cow bell' that was put away with other antiquities of earlier days when the new residence was opened.) Breakfast was at 6:30, after which all the students and staff nurses who were on day duty, lined up in the matron's office at 6:45 for prayers and the reading of the night reports. Floor duty began promptly at 7:00 a.m.

Hours off duty were posted by the matron daily. Two hours a day and one-half day a week, beginning at 2:00 p.m. was allowed. Sunday was special! Two nurses were off duty until noon, but they were required to relieve the night nurses, who did not come on duty till 9:00 p.m. Four hours off on Sunday was usual for all other nurses, and statutory holidays were observed by four hours off duty, when it could be arranged.

Because the hospital was largely maintained by the Missionary Society of the Methodist Church, the students and nursing staff were forbidden to dance or attend dances. The playing of cards was frowned upon and smoking or drinking would not have been tolerated. The preparation of food in the 'Home' was not permitted. The regular attendance at church when off duty hours would allow, was a must.

These regulations, as you might expect, have been changed over the years.