Evening star., 1901-08-08
AUTO. FOR EMERGENCIES
LOCAL HOSPITAL TEMPORARILY
SUPPLIED WITH ONE.
Regard 1T as Of Great
Utility-RepOrt Of Institu-
tiOn for July.

The facilities for performing the public
duties at the Emergency Hospital have
been greatly augmented the past week,
through the temporary employment of an
automobile ambulance, which was placed
In service August /. The vehicle has
greatly aided the hospital staff in the rapid
transportation of emergency patients from
various points of the city, and has proved
to be of such vast benefit that the physi-
clans at the institution are extremely de-
srous of securing one for permanent use
The horses driven to the ambulances OF
the hospital were placed in pasture for
two weeks August 1. and 1t became neces-
sary to either hire other animals or rent
an automobile, the latter having been
spoken of to the physicians as very de-
srabe vehicle for their use. Accordingly,
the resident physician, after securing the
proper authority, rented an ordinary but
large-sized delivery wagon automobile pro-
PEELED by electricity. 1t was fitted up by
the staff and placed into service. It's utility
was at once apparent.
AS an Illustration Of the great worth OF
this vehicle the case of a run the other day
to the loop at the Rock Creek bridge Is
cited at the hospital. This is consider
able distance. but 1t was covered by the
automobile In ten minutes on the trip out
and eight minutes In returning. A horse
would have required at least twenty-five
minutes eacn way 10 lTdFe1 the same QlS-
tance. Last night remarkably quick trips
were made to South and Northeast Wash
ington. On trip to the latter section ply
sicIans handled the case of q would-be sui
side, the victim having taken poison. Every
minute counts in a case Of this sort and
the rapid work of the hospital staff in
treating the patient was only possible
through the use of the automobile. A very
quick trip was made to the hospital and
the life of the patient, which would prob
ably otherwise have been lost, 1t Is stated.
was saved.
An automobile for the use Of the hospital
would cost in the neighborhood Of 50, 800.
Unless Congress can be prevailed upon to
make an appropriation for it's purchase the
authorities say they can only hope to Sc
cure one through local charity.
Monthly Report of Hospital.
The report of the resident physician of
the hospital for the month of July, 1901,
has been prepared and is ready for SUBJ
mission to the visiting board Of that in
stitution. The figures show that the num-
ber of cases handled during the month is
practically the same as for the month o.
July, 1900 although an increase is shown
in the business Of the emergency depart
ment. The comparative figures are:
Dispensary service: New cases - July,
1901 $50; July, 1900, SIS; ~eyisits-Juiy
1901. 1,547; July, 1900. 1851.
Emergency service: New cases July
1901. 544; July, 1900, 422; revisits-July, 1901.
$40; July, 1900, 205.
Number of patients admitted to the
wards: July. 1901, 81; July, 19OO g. Num-
ber of deaths: July, 1901. 8; July, 1900, T.
Ambulance calls: July, 1901, 200; July, 1900,
LAT.
Prescriptions compounded: July, 1901,
2,IS5; July 1900 1913
OF the total of deaths for July, 1901, six
were due to sunstroke.