Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-06-26
Aboard a White Ship of Mercy

organized. From 1888 TO 1900 the
work developed steadily, and in tae
middle of August last summer the
new boat, specially designed and built
to be a modern hospital, and embody-
ing the result of years of study on
the part OF those connected with the
work, was put into commission.
Accordingly, during the present sum
mer when old Sol vouchsafes some OF
the swelter that usually atliicts the
crowded districts OF our large cities
during July and August, the white
ship of healing, provided with ply
sicians and white-gowned nurses. will
daily drop down the harbor each
morning and anchor in quiet waters
behind Hull or elsewhere, returning
late in the afternoon to discharge its
day passengers and to remain off the
recreation pier with those whose crit
ical condition makes a night on the
| water away from the city's noise and
jar the greatest of az possible bless
ings.
Aboard the hospital ship those chill
dren who are most in danger from tiIe
effects of heat viii escape that evil
even when parching breezes come OF
the land 1t has been made possib q
through the generosity of persons sup
poruiag this philanthropy to install u
refrigerating plant by means OF which
Icomfort is brought to the little patients
in some of the wards even during the
most heated term. The familiar air
Imonia cold storage system allows air
to be taken into the boat from out
side, passed over frosty ammonia coils,
and thus chilled at the same time
that all moisture is removed. The dry
air is then rewarmed to the requisite
temperature over series OF steam
coils and sent into the ward. Accord
ingly, when outside conditions de-
mand it certain of the wards OF the
floating hospital may have their win
dows closed to shut out fog, mist OF
, heat. and still give their ailing in
mates the benefit Of pure air at even
temperature.
The floating hospital, to describe il
more fully, is provided with forcastie'
laundry and clothes sterilizing rooms;
engine rooms with pumps; electric
light dynamo, yentilating fans, bow
ers. a mothers and employees dining
room; Kitchen, storage and refrigGa
, tor rooms. On the main deck are the
] Offices, a large permanent ward, the
clinical laboratory, the linen room, the
| nurses bath and locker rooms, the
? dining room for nurses and doctors.
The day patients deck has ample
> space both for beds and seating capac
. ity for mothers There are seven per
+ manent wards with capacity o. l5f
e beds. One of these is an out-oaol
4 ward. located in the sterr where tht
= little patients remain in the open ali
+ both day and night The others in
> side wards. are supplied through ducts
a with air cooled, as indicated, to
r temperature of 10 degrees to 70 de
: grees. This refrlgerating system vii
+ unquestionably be the direct means O
saving many lives on sultry night
5 and days.
3 Statistics of the cases treated tN
g I j.. Boston floating hospital All i'll
j volving children under six years o
2 age demonstrate the service rendered
= to the community. Very many o
o them are desperate when received
e Some of these belong to the class o
2 patients known as permanent, o
;, whom last years record shows tina
3 l14S we're discharged well, s5 We're re
, lieved. 40 not relieved, and ISL c'ed
= Fifty of them were actually moribcn'
:. at entrance and lived less than a
4 hours. Most of these children were
e suffering from disorders which, in TIL
/ opinion of competent physicians, wouli
l lave meant alnost certain death !
5 they had been left in their swelterins
homes.
+ The day patients are received. offer
e in charge of their mothers O. older sis
+ ters. who get the benefit Of trip o.
{ he water from nine until half-pas
I four. The total number of such pa
l. tients discharged 1906 was 40, ant
o they made 2.49e trips. OF these. az
l. children we're discharged well, 42o y
s lnnroves condition 2I2 in APPARENT.