MOTOR HOSPITAL SHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16621, 18 August 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

MOTOR HOSPITAL SHIPS.

NOVEL CRAFT FOR THE TIGRIS. ] The King recently inspected one of the! fleet of motor hospital ships now on service on the Tigris, and it was visited by a party of medical men specially interested in the care of the sick and wounded of His Majesty's Forces. The ship, owing to its novel shape, presented a curious contrast with the craft of all kinds among which it lay in a port on the east coast. Its length is no more than 160 ft, its beam about 30ft, and so slight is the depth of the hull that . the three decks, surmounted by a light sun deck, with which it is fitted, seemed to rise sheer out of the water to a great height. The principal factor in the design is the light draught of the vessel, which was only 2ft 6in, and it is so constructed that when it is engaged on its work of carrying wounded and sick men from the upper shallow reaches of the Tigris to the main base at Basra, its draught will not exceed an additional foot. The vessel is painted white. Flags with the Red Cross fly fore f.nd aft, and the Red Cross is painted on its Bides and on the funnel, and high pver the sun deck rises the same symbol of mercy and compassion for illumination at night. , / Decks Elaborately Fitted. The main and upper decks form two hospital wards which can he used for either British or Indian troops. The main deck ward i.-' fitted with tiers of hospital cots, some of them being specially wide and long for the treatment of serious gunshot fractures, and in the disposition of the cots great care has been taken to give free access to each, bo as to facilitate the handling, dressing, and nursing of the cases. In order to ensure light and free ventilation, with - warmth in winter and coolness in the summer, the sides of these lower wards are enclosed with teak framing, having upper panels of splinter-proof glass arranged in the cottage-window fashion, and sa contrived as to act as windcaichers in the summer heat, and to exclude cold and rain in winter. The flying, or upper deck, intended for convalescents, is provided with a promenade and seats.

The speed of the vessel is about ten miles an hour, and as the journev to the base may take from jour to eight days, everything needed in a hospital and dispensary is to be found on board. At the fore end of the upper ward there is a spacious operating theatre, with an adjoining preparation room equipped with all the necessary fitting for sterilisation of surgical equipment and dressings. The accommodation for the medical, nursing, and navigating staffs is separate, and in cabins or compartments, according to rank and duties. Separate cooking arrangements, galleys, and pantries are provided for British patients and for each of the different castes of Indians. The vessel is equipped with refrigerating .plant for supplying ice, and with an Aerating four-bottle soda-water machine for making three gross of soda water, lemonade, or ginger-beer per day. In brief, the vessel is a combination of hospital ship,and pleasure boat,,