Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1917-01-20
HOSPITAL SHIP OF
U. S. TO SET PACE
Will Be First of Its Kind Ever
Built in the World.
WILL HAVE BEST Facilities
Uncle Sam Will Spend $2,50o,ooo in
Building Vessel That Will Eclipse
Those in Use by other
Nations.

Uncle Sans navy soon is to possess
the first hospital ship built exclusively
for that purpose. The warning nations
of Europe possess hospital ships but in
every case these are makeshifts, COM
mercial ships converted to the uses
of the navy and not built especially for
the purpose for which they are being
used. Uncle Sam will spend S2,500,000
in making his new floating hospital, the
first of it's kind ever built, complete in
every detail from the keel up.
1t had been realized for years that
the United States navy needed more
hospital facilities, not only as pre-
paratory measure against war but also
take care of its large personnel in time
of peace. Finally, after many years
OF constant endeavor on the part OF the
navy department, congress appropri-
ated $2,50O,O00 for the construction of
really modern and complete hospital
ship, to be built in government navy
yard. For six months DR.. r. G. Hol-
comb of the bureau of medicine and
surgery of the navy department CO.
operated with the bureau of construc-
ton and repair to lay the plans for a
vessel that would eclipse in ship con-
struction and hospital facilities any
thing that the world has ever produced
before.
To Prevent Rolling.
In the first place. the vessel is to be
furnished with several stabilizers, so
that she will roll as little as possible
and thus permit of the performance of
delicate operations even in a compara;
lively heavy sea. The floating hospital
Is to be 400 feet long, by, 60 feet wide,
with a capacity of 300 patients during
ordinary times and 500 in an emer-
gency.
In addition to the wards, there will
be several special consulting rooms
where outside patients, or day patients,
may come and receive treatment. One
of these will be in connection with the
ear, eye and throat equipment, which
Is to be as complete as any to be found
in city hospital. A soundproof room
for testing the hearing is also provided
for in the plans, as well as dark room
for testing the eyesight, and an X-ray
room where patients may be examined
for internal injuries, with separate
room for the. development Of the photo
graphic plates.
The wards are to be divided up into
separate classes for the treatment of
special diseases, two of the largest
wards being isolated for contagious
cases These wards will communicate
with the rest of the ship by only one
door, which may be heavily guarded,
and by chutes through which the laun-
dry and bed linen may be shot down
to the sterilizing apparatus below.
A diet kitchen. with all the latest
culinary equipment, is likewise pro-
vided for, and DR.. Holcomb has invent
ed a new and clever arrangement by
which each patient may receive his
food while hot. This is steam table
on wheels, The apparatus is filled with
hot food in the kitchen, on the lower,
elevator, where 1t is taken up to the
ward deck. II is then wheeled into
the wards and down the aisles of beds,
the plate of each patient being sup
piled fIom it's steaming watts.
Many Special Rooms.
Connected with each Of the wards
on the new hospital ship will be sew
eral special small rooms for different
kinds of cases. There will be a quiet
room where very serious cases will be
taken; special room for kidney and
bladder diseases; special hydrothera-
peutic room and thermo-therapeutic
room. in addition to special and indi-
vidual operating rooms.
The ship will also contain a bio
iogicai laboratory, dental laboratory
and All animal yard. where monkeys
and guinea pigs will be kept for the
purpose of testing theories of germ in
lection. In, an obscure corner of the
ship there is to be morgue, connected
with the refrigerating plant, where the
bodies of dead officers and sailors may
be preserved and brought back to their
families at home, instead Of being
buried over. the side of the ship, as
was formerly the custom.
AS compared with this new hospital
ship. with its electrical devices, its
scientific equipment, its vacuum-clean-
ing apparatus, its elevators and its
modern toilet facilities, the hospital
ships of even a few years ago appear
medieval In construction.