Evening star., 1896-08-15

every railroad In the country. There have
already been relief cars, intended simply
for the transfer Of injured employees and
passengers. but the belief has always been
strong that an actual hospital would be
practicable. Now, whenever there is an &C.
cident on road this hospital car is at once
hurried to the scene, and the victim may
receive the same treatment as If he were
in city institution. With the coming of
the new car there will be no delay in the
relief Of a sufferer, for even operations
may be performed while in transit; and
this. too, under the most favorable conIi-
tions. 1t Is generally conceded In railway
circles that this Is a humane, economic
and up-to-date idea that will be the means
Of saving many lives If such car had
been in operation in the vicinity OF the
late Atlantic City calamity the relief to
the suffering would have been inestimable.
u Arrangement of the Car.
There are two general divisions to the
hospital car, what might be called the
ward and the operating room, with a small
room for consultation between them. Each
Of these in the car. which has already been
built, and after which others are to be
modelled. Is an ideal of compactness and
completeness. Because of the limited room
it Is necessary that every possible space
saving device be used, as we'll as to have
every detail as perfect as art and science
can make 1t. The car itself outwardly has
much the appearance Of an ordinary bag
gage car 1t is strongly built and decorat
ed in the simplest style. 1t is within that
the wonders are to be seen.
70 The ward takes up something more than a
third of the interior. and is a bare uphol
stored room. 1t is fitted with half dozen
wrought iron beds with wire woven springs.
The legs of the beds rest on heavy, broad.
corrugated rubber tips on the floor of the
car. These soften the jolt and Jar Of the
train and prevent the beds from Slipping.
BY unique arrangement these beds are
hinged so that when not in use they can be
fastened against the wall and be entirely
out Of the way. These beds are taken down
one at a time as needed for sufferers. or for
the purpose Of airing. Besides these there
Is an air bed of the most improved pattern.
This can be folded into a very small COM
pass, and placed in closet especially made
for 1t which also answers for chair When
needed. 1t takes but the work Of a moment
to drag the bed out and initiate it. Among
the other things in the ward Is hammock
made to hang from the roof of the car by
strong straps. Connected with the ham,
mock Is device Of short spiral springs. so
delicately constructed as to prevent any jolt
or jar Of the car being communicated to the
occupant.
The Stretcher.
A new form Of stretcher will be used to
transport the sufferers to and in the car. 1t
Is of cypress, light, springy, yet strong and
durable 1t is made a few inches narrower
than the car door, in order that two stand
ard car cushions may just fit it. which will
give additional comfort and protection when
desired: The covering Of the stretcher is of
heavy duck over wire netting. The netting
and duck are fastened to the frame with
strips of wood screwed on, and easily re-
moved and cleaned. The stretcher is much
more elastic than that in general hospital
being eSDeciallv n he
of the train.
In the center of the car, between the
consulting room and the ward, is the op
Grating room, which is the joy of all sur
geons who have In years past been COM
PEELED to contend with the crude methods
of attending to the injured in railroad ac
cidents. This in the majority of cases
made the necessity of an operation a thing
to be deplored, owing to the inadequate
means at hand The operating table is Of
iron with glass top, with all necessary
aseptic operations and the prevention OF
shock. There Is large tank filled with
sterilized water. steril,zers and all neces-
sary apparatus. Pedding Is packed in q
corner cupboard: while in another, in the
center Of the compartment, chlorofornl,
ether, bandages and such essentials are
kept.
To Prevent Infection.
Inside and out. the car is painted with
a specially prepared paint, which may be
scalded without injury, and which will
stand disinfection by means of super-heated
steam or air. In this way all danger of
disease germs lingering about the car is
done away with.
With all its perfection, the cost Of this
car Is far less than that Of an ordinary
passenger coach. The latter, according to
modern demand, must be finished in the
finest and most expensive woods, of various
and harmonizdng varieties; while the fur
nishings must be Of the most luxuriant
sort. There must be curtains Of rare tex
one things that the public demand, yet
rarely seem to notice unless they are alb
sent. All this adds to the cost. With the
new hospital car. there La nothing but
what 10 practically needed for the saving
Of life or for the comfort Of the injured,
80 that Its first cost ID estimated at $4,000.
In operating o system OF hospital cars