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 AMBULANCE — AMEDEO

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mobilization being issued, the personnel told off for each unit tive taken by this society, ambulance corps have been formed in repairs to the allotted station, draws the equipment and transport, most large towns of the United Kingdom ; and police, railway serand embarks with the brigade to which it is attached. The trans- vants, and workmen have been instructed how to render ‘ ‘ first port of the ambulance department has profited by the concentra- aid ” pending the arrival of a doctor (Fig. 4). This Samaritan tion in strength of drugs, and the arrangements whereby space is work has been further developed and extended to most parts of the economized. As the fighting man can carry in his wallet nourish- British Empire, notably to Canada, Australia, and India,. In the ment enough for thirty-six hours in the form of an emergency United States the civil ambulance is not general. Each city has its ration in a tin the size of a cigar-case, and enough sweetening own system and organization. In some the ambulance service is material in the form of saccharine to last him a fortnight, in a bottle the size of a watch, so the medical department can take compressed tabloids of drugs, each tabloid being a dose, and each taking up about one-tenth of the space the drug would otherwise occupy ; while the medical officers can carry hypodermic cases, not so large as ordinary cigarette-cases, containing a syringe and hundreds of doses of highly concentrated remedies. The traction - engines with the army can supply steam - power for X - ray and electric - light work, ice - making, &c. The American Civil War (1861-65) marked the commencement of the modern ambulance . system. The main feature, howhoreign everj 0f the hospital organization Methods, throughout that campaign was the railway hospital service, which provided for the rapid conveyance of the sick and wounded to the rear of the contending armies. These hospital carriages (Fig. 2), Fig. 6.—Type of Motor Ambulance. equipped with medical stores and appliances for the transport of cases from the front to worked by the police, as in Boston ; in others, notably New York, the base, were rapidly introduced into other armies, and played a great part in the ambulance service of the F'ranco-German by the hospitals (Figs. 5, 6), whilst Chicago boasts an admirable war. On the continent of Europe, the two rival military ambulance service under municipal control. Apart from these Powers, France and Germany, who were not slow to follow the “Samaritan” services, as they may be called, there is also in American lead, have since 1871 still further developed and im- most of the larger cities of America a specially organized police proved their ambulance systems. The German hospital service ambulance for the rapid conveyance of arrested persons to the for armies in the field was modified and extended by the “ Kriegs police stations. In most of the capitals of Europe there are likeSanitats ordnung ” of 1878 and the “ Kriegs Etappen ordnung ” of wise civil ambulance organizations dispensing “first aid” in 1887, which completed the organization by the addition in time of urgent cases, but their modus operandi is in no special feature war of numerous subordinate offices and departments. The peace distinguishable from that of the ambulance association of St. (J. K. D.) organization does not materially differ from the English system. John. The main divisions of the ambulance organization of the German army in the field would now fall into (1) sanitary detachments ; Amedeo Ferdinando Maria di (2) field hospitals ; (3) flying hospitals ; hospital reserve depots ; (5) commissions of transport ambulance ; and (6) railway hospital Savoia, Duke of Aosta (1845-1890), third son of trains. The whole administration of the ambulance service of Victor Emmanuel II., king of Italy, and of Adelaide, archthe grand army in the field is in the hands of the chief of the duchess of Austria, was born at Turin on 30th May 1845. army sanitary staff, who is_ attached to headquarters. Next in Entering the army as captain in 1859 he fought through the command come surgeons-general of armies operating in the field, surgeons-general of army corps, and under them again surgeons- campaign of 1866 with the rank of major-general, leading in-chief of divisions and regiments. Civil consulting-surgeons his brigade into action at Custozza and being wounded at of eminence, notably professors from the universities, are also Monte Torre. In May 1867 he married the Princess attached to the various armies and divisions to. co-operate with Maria Carlotta Del Pozzo della Cisterna. In 1868 he and act as advisers to the surgeons of the standing military surgical staff. The hospital transport service on the lines of com- was created vice-admiral of the Italian navy, but, two munication is highly organized, and the hospital railway carriages years later, left Italy to ascend the Spanish throne, his are equipped on an elaborate scale. The French ambulance system, reluctance to accept the invitation of the Cortes having finally settled by the reglement of 1884, is organized on almost been overridden by the Italian Cabinet. On 16th identical lines with the German. But the chief point wherein the . German and French ambulance systems differ from the British November 1870 he was proclaimed king of Spain by the lies in the military organization of the volunteer assistance Cortes; but, before he could arrive at Madrid, Marshal offered by the various Red Cross societies under the Geneva flag. Prim, chief promoter of his candidature, was assassinated. Whereas in France and Germany such aid is officially recognized Undeterred by rumours of a plot against his own life, and placed under direct military control, the English Red Cross Amedeo entered Madrid alone, riding at some distance societies act side by side with, but independently of, the milifaiy ambulance organization. In Germany the volunteer organiza- from his suite to the church where Marshal Prim’s body tion is presided over by an imperial commissioner or inspector- lay in state. His efforts as constitutional king were general, appointed in peace time, who in time of war is attached paralysed by the rivalry between the various Spanish to the headquarters staff. His functions are to control the factions, but with the approval of his father he rejected relations of the various Red Cross societies, and to secure their harmonious inter-working. Delegates appointed by him are all idea of a coup d’etat. Though warned of a plot against attached to the various corps and transport commissions. A o his life (18th August 1872) he refused to take precautions, volunteer assistance can be utilized which is not. entirely subor- and, while returning from Buen Betiro to Madrid in dinated to the military control, and which has not already in peace company with the queen, was repeatedly shot at in Via time received official recognition, and been organized on a skeleton footing. Moreover, only persons of German nationality can be Avenal. The royal carriage was struck by several revolver employed under it with the armies in the field. In the case of and rifle bullets, the horses wounded, but its occupants base hospitals situate in Germany itself, the services of foreigners escaped unhurt. A period of calm followed the outrage. may be enlisted by special permission of the war office. In r ranee, On 11th February 1873, however, Amedeo, abandoned by in the main, the same rules obtain in the case of the volunteer his partisans and attacked more fiercely than ever by his hospital service. „, , ... Civil ambulances.—In 1878 the British ambulance association opponents, signed his abdication. Upon returning to of St. John of Jerusalem was founded. Its object was to render Italy he was cordially welcomed and reinstated in his first aid to persons injured in accidents on the road, railway, or former position. His consort, whose health had been in any of the occupations of civil life. As a result of the initia-