Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/845

 Popular Science Monthly

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���Every consideration is given to the injured horse in carrying him away to the hospital. This truck differs from the ordinary automobile ambulance in having a trailer

��A New Type of Motor Horse- Ambulance

DIFFERING from other previous types of motor ambulances for sick or disabled horses in that it is a truck and trailer principle and not a self- contained vehicle, the latest unit, as shown in the accompanying illustration, has a low platform trailer into which the horse may walk with ease or be hauled in on a special device if unable to stand up.

The new equipment consists of a one- ton motor-truck and a trailer, the for- ward end of which is supported on the truck. The trailer has a specially low platform and a tail-gate which may be swung down to form a bridge to enable the sick horse to w^alk into the trailer body with ease. A second independent floor on rollers is provided in the trailer. When the horse is so disabled that he cannot stand up this platform is rolled out of the trailer and down the lowered tail-gate to the street, where the animal is securely bound to it with his head on a pillow to prevent injury. The platform is then hauled into the trailer by means of a steel cable wrapped around a drum carried in the gooseneck of the trailer- frame and revoh'ed by a hand-crank as shown in the illustration.

The trailer is provided with a perma- nent top and curtains at the front, rear and sides for use in inclement weather.

��Two stanchions are provided at the center of the trailer at each side to sup- port the ends of a canvas sling passed under the stomach of the horse to take the weight off his feet when one of his legs is injured.

��Germany's Rubber Trade

THE war has had its effect on the rub- ber trade in Germany. The manu- facture of rubber sporting goods, toys, articles of luxury and the like has been almost entirely curtailed. Had a demand existed, the lack of the necessary raw materials, even in substitute qualities, would not have been forthcoming. Busi- ness is very slack in sanitary and surgical goods, because the essential, fine crude rubber can only be had for military pur- poses and skilled labor, which is ver>- important in this line, is very scarce.

The enormous consumption of solid and pneumatic tires by the German arm\' has given the manufacturers all they can handle. Business decreased appreciably, however, towards the close of the year 1915. The cycle tire industry has not been favored by war conditions. Onl>- reclaimed rubber has been axailable for making casings and only very limited (luan titles of crude rubber have been allowed for inner tubes. The restrictions on the use of cotton fabrics has practical- ly stopped the making of cycle tires for other than military purposes.

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