The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-18
FURNERAL DIRECTORS HAVE
INCREASED USEFULNESS
AMBULANCE SERVICE is UP-TO-
DATE-MORTUARY CHAPELS
FILL LONG-FELT WANT-IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SERVICE

No more rapid progress has been made
in any profession within the past few
decades than that of the funeral direc-
tor Birmingham institutions devoted to
this work have shown especial activity
and today there are few cities of the
same size in the word that can show
more progressive and up-to-date under
taking establishments than this city.
There was once a time. and not so
many years ago. that the undertaken was
supposed to devote his entire time and
attention to the sale of coffins and the
interment of those who had passed to
their reward. At that time the art of
embalming was but little practiced and
modern care and attention were not Civ
en- to interments.
Perhaps the greatest innovation con-
nected with a first class establishment
of this kind is the ambulance service.
now a feature of every up-to-date fun
eral director. few years ago when
an accident occurred 1t was customary
to notify the city police department., and
they were expected to make an investi-
cation and provide means for carrying
the injured persons to the nearest hospi-
tai or infirmary. This method was very
unsatisfactory, however, and an eX-
pertinent undertaking establishments pur-
chased ambulances which were held for
accident calls at all times This proved
a great improvement over former condi-
tions. but it was not until the installation
of the auto ambulance that the best SER
vice was rendered.
Work of the Ambulances
Today practically every first class un-
dertaling establishment in Birmingham
has its auto ambulance. If an accident
occurs in a remote part of the city, it
is but the work of few minutes to noti-
fy one or more undertakers, according
to the number of persons injured. and in
five minutes less, ,aey will be on the
scene. prepared to convey the injured to
the nearest hospital or iniirmary in the
quickest possible time.
The men who operate the ambulanceS
have an arrangement by which they can
take one or more surgeons with them.
In critical cases it is not uncommon that
surgeon will be picked up and taken
to the scene of the accident and medi-
cal attention will be given the stricken
pital.
Most of the men in charge of the am
balances are trained in first aid to the
injured" work, and they begin treating
those injured as soon as they reach the
scene of an accident if no physician is
available When a serious railroad acci-
dent occurs it is no uncommon sight to
see number of ambuances waiting at
a railroad station or street crossing for.
the relief train. The unfortunate victims
of the wreck are handled as carefully
as possible, and no time is lost in get
ting them to an infirmary.
The up-to-date auto ambulance is
equipped with medical chests and appli-
ances, so that no matter what nature
may be the accident or illness. there are
always sufficient first aid to the in
iured" medicines or restoratives to af-
ford relief Some of the ambulances are
large enough for two persons, in addi-
ton to one or more nurses, physicians or
attendants. The cots are suspended, or
have such delicate springs that the oc-
cupants are at ease even If the route
may be rough and uneven.
MOrtuafy Chapels Popular
Another feature of the modern under
taking establishment is the mortuary
chapel which has been established by
practically all of the larger and more
important companies. 1t was frequently
the case in years gone by that when
death occurred, if for any reason it was
not convenient to have the funeral at
residence or church, friends of the de-
ceased were considerably embarrassed.
Sometimes a church Is not available be-
cause of special meetings, conventions,
wedding or other special events, and 1t
is Frequently the case that residence
may not be suitable. This is especially
true in cities where large numbers of
persons live In apartment houses and
hotels. To provide for such emergencies
the funeral directors have arranged hand
somely equipped mortuary chapels. Being.
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