The Florence tribune., 1898-12-24
THE HOSPITAL SHIP. 4 Splendid Institution ag Eodsfa
 Navei Warfare.

fa Et Are Embodied Agl the Iaaprovo-
 Iaents os Faoeres~sve sfunansty,
 and scieutiac surefesf
 Researeh
 Surgeon General Van Reypen, of the nary, returned few days ago from New York. where he inspected the nafal ambulance ship the solaee and saw the sick and wounded brought ID from Admiral sa1npsons fleet. 54 in all. The wounded ipclaae those who participated in the engH gemenfs at Cardenas, Cienfuegos and Afatangas. The men are doing veil, and there will be no fatalities resulting. One of the men will lose an arm, as that member was so mangled by shell that empu- tation above the elbow was necessary. .til the other patients win be more fortunate. Surgical science has made such great advances since she civil war that there will be no such great losses of limsss and other permanent disfc- urements as occurred 50 years ago. One of the men brought up on the solace had his thigh bone shattered by piece of Spanish shell. The sheli went into the ieshy part cf the Thigh, crushing the bone to spiiateTs and emerging on the other side of tlt leg. it made gaping wound completely through the leg, with the thigh bone severed. During the civil war such t wound would have necessitated am putation of the leg near the hip. But under the present methods Of anti septic treatment amputation vas not necessary in this case. The treatment already has shown that the limb will be saved. although it may be trife shorter than before.
 Sot only is unipntati0n avoided. hut sssas lii1-f7sss ing the soldier Of the civil war had to pass threurh. The other wounds un- der treatment are not of serious character aud cali for no special surgi- cal skill The sick men, about 4 in number. have no signs of contagious disease, their ailments being chronic. such as consumption. heart disease, etc. They were taken away from the dghting ships, as the northern latitude will aid in their recovery, and also be- cause sickness on board ship has de- pressing influence on the fighting crews.
 Inc sufferers, both sick and wound ed. showed their delight when taken aboard the solace. 1t is appointed like a modern hospital, with cheerful wards and every facility toward re- storing health. Some Of the old tars speedily named the Solace the flee cream ship" as the ice-making ma chine aboard permitted the nurses to give the sick and wounded ice cream as one of their delieaeies. When chicken was served to some of the pa tieuts they declared that they were now living iR a hotel. The substantials are furnished by the navy, but many deiieacies, such as lemons, oranges. jellies, chickens, etc, have been fur nished bY private contribution, and are looked upon in the care of sick as almost as essential as solid foods.
 Dr. Van Reypen is gratiaed with the suecess of the Solace. It is distinct departure in the care cf sick and wounded, and st the outset was looked upon as rather experimental. During the civil war our sick and wounded were kept in hospitals at the mouth Of sle Mississippi river at Key West and at other poinrs near tie scene of ac- tion The intense heat of the south added to the distress of the wounded, largely increasing the death rate.
 Dr Van Reypen deterniaed upou 8 new policy in the present war. He in- seAls to remove all the sick and wounded to the north, the Solace mak- ing trips back and forth. between the fleet and northern ports. He feeis that the experimental stage is now past and that the plan of an ambulance ship continually moving the sick and wounded from the scene of action is all established improvement on the old methods.
 The British nayal observer visited l the Solace at Key West. and said that i it was the first hospital ship of the kind he had ever seen. He was i'm l pressed with the completeness Of tlle Solace's outfit, and indicated that this modern device for mitigating the hor. TOTS of war would attract the attcn. ton of foreign countries and he gen. orally adopted.
 The Solace arrived at the Brooklyn navy yard and transferred her 5i pa. tients to the naval hospital at Brook l lyn. She sailed to rejoin Admira
 Sarnpson's fleet and take away sucl further sick and wounded as may bs there. Dr. Van Reypen sent aboars S1.000 worth of delicacies contributed
 by private parties, and also give tn
 chief surgeon of the ship $500 for fur
 ther use in this line. This is an addi tion to the sabstantials on board, an'