On 13 June 1867, the Management Committee agreed the following rule (among others) relating to the house surgeon:

“He is to commence his duties and visit the wards daily at 9 a.m. and to visit them again at 7 p.m. ; & not to absent himself from the Hospital, (except under pressing emergency) until after 1 p.m. unless the Medical Staff shall have previously visited ; & then only in accordance with the existing rules”.

Extracted from the Dorset County Hospital Committee of Management Minutes, 1863-69, at the Dorset History Centre (reference NG/HH/DO(C)/1/2/3).