Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-08-26
ance when the doctors begin their

ance when the doctors begin their
work
First comes the call that tells the
hospital that one more unfortunate IS
in dire need of assistance. In a mo-
ment, almost before the bell stops ring
ing, the ambulance is bowling out OF
the gate, the driver glancing at the slip
of paper containing the address to
which he is expected to drive. Through
the streets, then, at the best possible
speed, sparing the horse not bit, for
q human life may be passing away, he
drives, regardless of the consequences
to him il his vehicle should strike an
obstruction, the physician who accom-
panies him clinging as best he can to
the seat in the rear of the ambulance.
until he stops short at the place where
the waiting patient lies. helpless.
With a leap and bound the surgeon
gains the side of the Frustrated man.
1t Is the work of a moment only to
place him on the stretcher, remove
portion of his clothing, clap an ice
pack, already prepared, on his head,
and place some cooling substance about
his body wherever the skin can be
reached. Meanwhile the mercury in the
surgeons thermometer, held in the
mouth of the patient by some friendly
hand, has been expanding to show the
temperature to which the blood has
mounted. By this the surgeon judges
whether or not he will be obliged te
resort to a hypodermic injection to
stimulate the action of the heart.
Off, then, to the hospital, on race
for life. Most heat cases are desper
ate ones, and the run back to the hos
pital is accomplished at gallop, while
| the surgeon bends over his patient IN
the ambulance, rubbing him with ice
or performing any other Service thai
may be necessary for the alienation Of
him.
Quickly, when at the hospital the
hard drive safely ends, the patient |!
carried into the receiving room. By hi
temperature the mode of treatment il
decided. If it is only a few degrees
above the danger point, which is 10:
degrees, the patient is taken to one O
the wards and sprayed with ice waite
until the temperature is reduced. Oftel
this takes long time, but the work o
spraying may not be neglected for
single instant and the attendants mus
be faithful in the work.
Sometimes the temperature Is at II
degrees. "Bath!" is the quick verdict
and off the patient goes to. the batf
room, which Is all ready for his occl
pancy. Off with his clothes in trio
and lay him on the concrete floor, hi
head resting on a rubber-covered pi
low. Scarcely is he rested there befor
the doctors and nurses, who have bee
stripping their own bodies in an adjoil
ing room, appear in bathing trunks an
girt with towels.
They play stream of cold water o
him, recumbent, with "a spray noZZl
while one of them places an ice pac
under his head and pieces of ice undt
his arms. The thermometer has a
ready been placed, and a nurse slaI
the mans legs, arms and body vigo
ously. In heat cases the blood reeed,
from the surface and must be brougl
back for proper distribution over tt
system. The vigorous slapping mater
: ally assists in this, and brings the b.
life fluid into reach of the cold spra
Lumps of ice, with which one Of Il
,, physicians rubs the mans chest, me
as though they were being place
: against hot stove. One hand only
t used for this, while with the other Il
4 physician keeps careful watch Of Il
: pulse, listening closely at the san
time to the breathing.
a Hard Manual Labor.
n Ten minutes of this work-and 1t
o hard, manual labor-and perhaps t
l. breathing becomes better, the pul
more regular and the temperatu
lower The work goes on now wi
= some hope of living issue, the wat
splashing over nurse and doctor a
the ice still melting rapidly. There
no cessation of the slapping and RI
bing, for normal temperature has L
yet been reached, and. notwithstar