The New York herald., 1879-10-01
THE AMBULANCE SERVICE.
An Important and Growing Feature
Of the Hospitals.
SKETCH OF THE SYSTEM.
Is the Proper Class of Doctors Employed
to Garry It Out?

With the growth of the city has sprung up sys-
tom of ambulance service in connection with the
public hospitals that has hitherto attracted htte or
public attention. and yet from humane stand
point it il service, when properly carried OUT OF IN
estmable value In large and busy city like this acci
dents constantly occurring. and in many instances
it is only when prompt medical attendance
is rendered to the victims that their lives 'fe
saved Fires arc prolific cause Of accidents. ous
the variety of Affections that befa humanity ir TINS
most restless of communities is perfectly end
less Tho ambulance service has come to
be a necessity, and is now ecognlzed
feature in tho economy of all tho
loading hospitals Of the city. When TIE ponce re-
port case by telegraph to OF thess institutions
the ambulance is supposed to be despatched In
stanter to the scene accompanied by quail
hod surgeon. with all the necessary medical
remedies at hand. If it b, serious case'
requiring prompt and skllful treatment. much de-
pends upon the experience af the surgeon The
ambulance doctors Of tho different hospitals rs
rule are young men. and are presumed not only to
be graduates of recognized medical college but to
have at least six months Of hospital
practice before entering the duties of ambulance
surgeon There is 20 question but that some OF
these young signally able and active and 1t
takes both youh and vigor to mako an
efficient ambulnce surgeon; but 1t would
be claiming to much to say that they are
all up to The requisite standard Of fitness.
However brilliantly young man may graduate
II is indispensable that he should have some con-
tinued praical experience in surgery before he
diagnose .oase on the instant. In their ambulance
work tn. young hospital surgeons show great en-
thusia,rn. and the rivalry between them Is sug-
pestfe OF the old volunteer hremen days.
Eafn hospital tries to get as many cases as 1t can.
AID in this effort very unseemy occurrences some
times take place. 1t is unpleasant sight to see the
representatives of two different hospitals lighting for
the possession Of some helpless and bleeding speci-
men Of humanity that may boast greater
numerical record than the other. Some Of tho very
young doctors said to discriminate in their
treatment OF people, and that where the patient Is
poor and humble he meets with rough and heart
less usage; but the WHOLE the ambulance service
Is In kindly and efficient hands and cannot
be too highly appreciated. Each hospital has
certain number OF police precincts assigned to It,
The New York Hospital formerly had six. but now it
has only two. the Sixteenth and Twenty-ninth while
Bt. vincent's. with smaer capacity. has four,
where il formerly had only two. the Eighth. Ninth.
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Bellevue has nearly
dozen procinctr and possesses accommodation for
so0 patients. the New York Hospital for 2Oo
HOW DELLEvUE is EQUIPPED.
Bellevue Hospital attends to q more extensive sec
ton OF tho city than any of the others. It has two
regular ambulance surgeons-Dr. John Goethals and
DR.. j. C. Schapps-and eight house surgeons. who
at any time available ambulance surgeons
Drs. johnson, Conant, Griswold. Franklin Gould,
Quimby. Cheeseman and McKim. All these live
in the hospital. There six ambulance wagons
but only two of them are ever III use In case
OF IN ordinary accident tho hospital receives
q telegraphic despatch from the police pre-
cinct nearest to the scene; but IL It be some
thing serious. involving casualties to three
or more persons tho fire call Of twenty strokes is
given. and then two ambulances are sent out with
instructions to call at the police precinct and inquire
II moro needed. surgeon Invariably accompa-
MES the ambulance He wears blue cloth coat.
pantaloons aud vest: with brass buttons. and a mill
The two surgeons at Bellevue take turns one being
on day and tho other on night duty.
Dr. Goethals is native of this city. twcnty-four
years of age, aud according to Warden O'Rourke is
graduate of the College OF Physicians and Surgeons
DR.. schapps belongs to Brooklyn. Is twenty-three
seven of Bellevue Medical College, with an experi-
enco in the Long Island College HOSPITAL.
THE SURGEON OF ST. vINcENrs HOSPITAL.
DIR. W. F. Bourne. graduate of the New York
Uniyerssy twenty-four years Of age, is senior as
pital. This Institution has hitherto relied on the
Bellevue ambulance for bringing to its DOORS
but IT is having fine one built for its special
.what is the nature of the accidents you receiver"
was asked of the Doctor.
''rhey are varied. Tho other day received Ave
cases. One was Of cut throat. another of internal
injury from tho falling of a beam I'm nm oxcavatiop
another OF morphine poisoninq another of scsin
wounds received in street neht aud another of =
sprained ankle
"How long do you remain on duty?"
..From six In the morning till twelve at nioht
.sWbat is the avoran. number of cases receiva3 In
month";
"About thrtv-fve,
..po dot. they ,os often prove fataia"
.srhere 10 some rivalry betvoo, tho ,rrhr,.r... ~
Che oiiaferent hosnitnis ia tbcre not 90 -
eyes considerable In a 6ro call al, tto amin,
lapces get together on the rronnd and nj there "a
great compelition as 70 which, ga,a the arst NAV
In the street accidenf tho other dav The
Bcleyue mar got away with three casos aud ths No.
York Hospital with only one We yot none hacanso
we didn't want TO ipht about H. Th,s aort oS thin,
90 so,,ot,r,as si,,,,is ,ts..,,... o''o ~ 'AA"s