Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-20
AMERICAN AMBULANCE
PRAISED FOR ITS WORK
Herbert Adams Gibbons Tells of the
Good It Is Doing in the
Present War.
Held in High Esteem by French
Physicians and Soldiers Like
Its Treatment.

Herbert Adams Gibbons. member of
the American colony in Paris, in a re-
cent statement declares that the Amer
lean Ambulance in the Lycee Pasteur
at Neuilly- Seine. since the begin
ming of the war. has been "wo$thy ex-
ample of American surgical skill and
nursing Methods and 'is worthy of
the respect and confidence and financial
support of the American nation
'"rhe most striking proof of the
esteem in which our ambulance is held
in France is that the soldiers all want
to go there for treatment" declares
Mr.. Gibbons. Its fame has spread
throughout France, and J have heard
from many of the leading physicians of
the French army that their esteem for
American methods in surgery and
nursery has been greatly Increased by
what they have seen of the results OBJ
tanned in the Lycee Pasteur at Neuilly-
sur-Seine"
Taking up the history and work of
the American Ambulance, Mr.. Gibbons
says:
Organized in Paris.
The American Ambulance in Paris
was organized by committee of
American physicians and citizens resi-
dent in Paris in the last days of July
before the war broke out, in order that
the traditions established by Amer
leans during the war of 1S70-7I be hon
orably maintained in 1914, when
similar situation might soon confront
the American colony in Paris. This
committee was composed of those who
by their intimate knowledge of the
conditions to be met and by their ac-
knowledged skill as representative of
the best American professional ability
in Paris, were eminently qualified to
represent the United States, and to call
for the support of the American nation
Cooperating with it was committee
all the elements in the American col
ony. From the very beginning this
committee has done it's work faith
fully and ably. 1t has expended every
cent Of the money intrusted to it with
care. Almost superhuman obstacles
were overcome in the trying days of
August and September, 1914, and the
hospital was ready to receive patients
was received September D. and from
that moment to this the hospital has
steadily grown, and there has never
been moment that the mana cement
has been unable to cope adequately
with the need as it increased
| AT first the authorities placed the
maximum at 200 beds. The number of
| beds were increased the demand for
| them was justified until now the hos
pital is caring for more than 500 on
the first of May. 1.725 patients had
| been admitted, 1,l39 of whom have
| been discharged and only eighty-four
| died, in spite of the fact that the most
| serious cases were sent there and SOP
| were under treatment Excluding Sep
| TENDER and October, when owing to
| extremely abnormal conditions, the
| cost of all supplies was very high, the
| average expense per patient was only
| 3 FOL ~
s1.29, and in April. when supplies be-
| gan to increase in cost everywhere in
France. 1t amounted to only $1.3S.
Average Cost Patient.
| The average cost OF the first six
| months per patient was Sl99 These
are the actual figures and j know of
no other hospital in France where adj
| equate attention has been given to
| every single case that has rivaled the
| American Ambulance in economical
| management. In fact. those of us who
| know what foodstuffs and fuel and
medical supplies have cost during this
last winter are filled with admiration
| at the ability that has been shown in
| getting such a splendid result as this.
| The American Ambulance, from the
very beginning OF the war, has been a
| worthy example of American surgical
| skill and nursing methods Hundreds
| OF physicians. competent by hospital
| experience to speak on hospital admin
| istratton, have visited the American
| Ambulance during tn ewinter, and their
Judgment has been unanimous in re-
gard to the efficiency of the surgical
| and nursing staff of the hospital But
the most striking proof of the esteem
| In which our ambulance is held in
France is that the soldiers all want to
go there for treatment. It's fame has
spread throughout France. and | have
heard from many of the leading physi-
clans of the French army that their
| esteem for American methods in surg
cry and nursing has been greatly in
creased by what they have seen of the
results obtained in the I.Ycee Pasteur