The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-08
Tn. Army Hospital Service.

In the field a hosr ital service has been ar
ranged so perfect In its details as TO elicit
the admiration OF medical exrerts both at
home and abroad. 1t Is now in use as far as
possible In several OF the larger camps Of the
National Guard and is divided into three
departments Of medical assistance. When
regiment is engaged in battle two men from
each company are detsiled ns stretcher
bearers, TO carry the wounded to the first
field hospital, located Mt o certain distance in
the rear Of the line Of battle. The stretcher
bearers. who average twenty five to q regi-
ment. ara re-enforced by about twenty Of
the hospital corps, the latter being composed
OF able-bodied men without arms. who watch
for the wounded and carry strotchers to a
soldier as soon as he 10 ssen to fall. The,
"soldier" stretcher bearers remain with their
companies, unless the nasnDer Of wounded
increases so that they cannot be Immediately
taken from the field by the hospital corps
The latter are under the orders Of q surgeon.
who examines the injured man before he IL
taken away. and dresses the wound tenn
porarily, If i.s nature allows such relief.
The victim ~ then removed TO the dressing
station. which Is located out Of range Of the
enemy's fire. Another surg con removes the
tcthPShoiJ ceh'eb'' - 1S<<NsS'ys SAsctAS
amputation be imperative. this Is performed.
the station being equipped with instruments
as we'll as medicines, antiseptic solutions
and bandages. These dressing stations,
which constitute portion Of the second
relief department, are connected with the
field hospital, still further IN the rear, by
cove Q ambulance wagons, each containing
from three to five swinging cots. They are
driven to the dressing stations IS often ps
required, taking the wounded to the hospital
referred TO. With each patient is sent brief
report from the surgeon as TO the nature Of
the injury, etc, for the direction Of the
hospital surgeons. Tfc hospitals are calcu-
lated to contain at lenst 200 cots, with corps
Of physicians and nurses, and complete
outfit OF bedding, medicines, linen md spec
tally prepared food for the inmates. Attached
is surgical ward equipped for performing
difficult operations. + e;e tho patient may
remain for week or a fortnight, IL he is able
TO return to dnty Mt the end of that time. II
wounded so as TO require n long period Of
confinement, or is Pronounced to bo fatally
or permanently disabled, he IL sent or 10 the
third departments of relief. This Is perma-
nent hospital located beyend the scenes Of
war. and, IN the case OF the Cuban hostlitcs,
will probably be- at some point on the South
ern coast OF the United States. This is the
most elaborately supplied Of al the stations.
and is to have evory possible adjunct for re.
lie,ing the injured.
The possibility and location OF battlo are
announced to tho commander of the hospital
corps as soon as the general at tho head OF
the army has naturcd his plans. The posi-
tions 10 be tnken by the regiments are
mapped oct, as we'll as the probable range Of
the cnemy's IRE. Tho chisf Of the corps
locatos his field hospitals and dressing
ststicns at tho most advantageous sites
AL Of tho paraphcrnolIa is carried in spec
tally designed wagons, and the men in tho
CORPS are drilled IN putting mp the tents, etc,
so that only short time IL required TO havo
them In readiness. Details OF stretchcr
bearers are then assigned 20 positions in tho
renr Of cnch command, and all is in readiness
Tor rapid and systematic assistance to tho
fallen. It Is intended 10 have each field hos.
pital at least twenty nilcs in the rear, "a
that in case Of defeu, announced by special
messenger time viii bc allowed 10 transfer
tho station without discom fnrting the
patients Tho ang Of tho. ken Gross floats
over eaoh tent wagon or building useh by
the hospital corps, while every ncmlpr ~
| it from the hend surgeon TO tlir driver of the
| am bulancc. has the square 81 white and this
cross OF crimson displayed tn enc arm.-
Golfers Weekly.