AMBULANCE (Fr. bOpital ambulant, walk ing hospital, from Lat. anibuiarc, to walk). A two or four-wheeled wagon constructed for con veying sick or wounded persons. Ambulances are constructed to run very easily, and are de signed to carry one or two tiers of stretchers. Some forms are fitted with water-tank, medicine chest, operating-table. and other conveniences. City hospital ambulances are light, four-wheeled wagons furnished with one or two beds, surgical appliances, and restoratives. Since 1899 electric automobile ambulances have been used by the larger hospitals in the larger cities of the United States. A surgeon rides in the ambulance, and in crowded streets a gong is kept sounding in order that the ambulance may have the road cleared. Ambulances used in the army are large spring wagons provided with all the necessary appliances for the care and transportation of the sick and wounded. In each division of the army these wagons are organized into a corps, and placed under the command of an ambulance offi cer. Railway cars and steamers are also fitted up with conveniences for transporting patients to more remote and permanent hospitals. The sys
tem perfected in this country during the Civil War has now been adopted by most of the civ ilized nations. Several of the Continental coun tries keep permanently in store railway trains completely equipped for hospital service. In France an ambulance is a portable hospital at tached to every division of an army in the field, and provided with all the requisites for the medi cal snecor of sick and wounded troops. Such an ambulance is stationed at some spot removed from immediate danger, and soldiers after a bat tle seek those who have been wounded and con vey them to the ambulance. The French also introduced the eacolets, which consist of two easy chairs slung, in panniers across the back of a mule, which are available along paths where no wheel-carriage could pass. The eneolets have since been adopted by other armies, as well as improved hand-litters, and wheeled litters or bar rows.