Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-06-20
Aboard a White Ship OF Mercy

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organized. From 1898 to 1900 the
work developed steadily, and in the
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 affiicts 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
icaI condition makes night on the
water away from the city's noise and
Jar the greatest of all possible bless
ings.
Aboard the hospital ship those chill
dren who are most in danger from tne
effects Of heat will escape that evil
even when parching breezes come off
the land 1t has been made pOssib e
through the generosity of persons sup
porting this philanthropy to install q
refrigerating plant by means of which
comfort is brought to the little patients
in some of the wards even during the
most heated term. The familiar am
monia 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 a series of steam
coils and sent into the ward. Accord
ingIy. 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 ill
mates the benefit of pure air at even
temperature.
The floating hospital, to describe il
more fully, is provided with fOrcastle,
laundry and clothes steriIizing ROOMS:
engine rooms with pumps; electric
light dynamo, ventilating fans, bow
ers, a mothers and employees dining
room: kitchen, storage and refrigera-
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 of $50
beds. One of these is an outdoor
ward. located in the stern where the
little patients remain in the open air
both day and night. The others, in
side wards, are supplied through ducts
with air cooled, as indicated, to a
temperature Of 70 degrees to " de-
grees. This refrigerating system viii
Tic dlASSI ioCcaiS VI
saving many lives on sultry nights
and days.
Statistics of the cases treated by
the Boston floating hospital, AL i'll
volving children under six years OF
age demonstrate the service rendered
to the community Very many Of
them are desperate when received
Some of these belong to the class Of
patients known as permanent" Of
whom last years record showssthat
143 were discharged well. 95 were re-
ieved. 40 not relieved. and 181 died.
Fifty of them were actually moribund
at entrance and lived less than 48
hours. Most Of these children were
suffering from disorders which, in the
opinion Of competent physicians, would
have meant almost certain death il
they had been left in their sweltering
homes.
The day patients are received. often
in charge OF their mothers or older sis
tiers, who get the benefit of trip on
the water from nine until half-past
four. The total number Of such pa
TENTS discharged 1906 was ITO. AMI
they made 2.499 trips. OF these, I26
children we're discharged well, 40 in !
improved condition, 212 in apparently