THE MAHENO.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1915, Page 6

THE MAHENO.

•A Jf'L''ATIMl ■UOSl'iXAij. MAI.'XI !•']('lo\Tl. V KQI ll'I'lvl). Painted a white color, with a bmad fil'een stripe (Intersected hy six large red Geneva Crosses) sweeping along her sides irom item to stem, the hospital ship Maheno attracted much attention wlnn she entered Wellington harbor on A onday moimng and berthed alongside the King's \\ hal f. Until quite recently she wits plying between Auckland and Sydney, and then tho' war claimed her. and she hurried to Duncdin to be fitted M;> lor her errand of 'mercy. In the short jjpace nl' three week*. duriti" which time iv swarm of workmen toiled "t nigh speed day and night and iSimilays, she underwent ail almost nnrcco"--nisable trail.-,formation. 'Many of her beautiful fittings were pulled out, of her the whole of her internal arrangements were altered, and her luxurious ship's dining saloon was obliterated completely. S'hc is now a- floating hospital—it is claimed the most complete of her kind m the 'world. ITcrs is a mission of mercy, not ~f war, and .everyt!h!,;g that human- forethought, could prrvide to give ease to nain racked bodies has been jjl'o'vuli'd. ffcr oolor scheme th.'ougihmit is white—a:id own significant long rows of wire, inatti'e:;ses lose much that is sinister amid the brightness and whiteness' of the interior.

ACOOMMODATTO FOR 351 WOUNDED. • Three decks have been converted for use for hospital purposes, and the visitor cannot-help being struck with the ideal hygienic conditions that have 'boon eieated. In all, the ship has accommodation _ for 331 wounded or Invalided men, divided up «« follows:—No. 1 special ward, 5 beds; \o. 2 'special 'ward. 0 beds; officer.,' ward, 15 bedS; ii.e.o's ward, S3 beds; A 'ward, 14 bt-ds; 'lt ward fi! beds; C ward 42 beds; 0 ward, 12 beds; K ward 20 beds; I-'ward. >iii bed's; O ward. 38 beds; II ward, 35 bedls-; J 'Ward, 3S beds; isolated ward, 11 bed's. The ship's dining-room on the main deck has been converted into thu main operating theatre, and is as complete as medical knowledge can malco it. In -close proximity are the medical nnd surgical store rooms, the instrument rooms, the anaesthetic room, and tlie main receiving room. 111 this lastnamed room the wounded men will be received, undressed and provided with hospital outfit. Their uniforms will bo transferred to the upper deck and pass- j cd through the sterilising plant installed there 'with a minimum of delay, and the men themselves will be -snugly (lis- j trlbnted in the numerous beds 'in the' Various wards. There is also tan X-ray room', in which the photographic instruments have yet to be installed. This room is zinc-lined, to prevent the powerful Rontgen rays from penetrating the walls.

TOO ELECTRIC LIFTS. As )«.:iin a ship which will carry such a large number of sick 'men, special earn Ik:-; .•••en paid to the sanitary l arrangeii'.eht.i. In fact, not a foot of available I |«•.(•!• lias been wasted. Two big -eloctrio Jit!s to lake bedsteads have been fitted an ;iiul every department of tin- ship i • ruiineu'ted by telephone with an exon deck. Altogether there are. 1 W'eiilv-iive telephonic connections. The i i' l . which were designed and made hy Mi'-ssi's J. and W. Kaulkner in very ijuick time, have mattresses which are all interchangeable, so that they can hi- moved to different wards without disturbing the patient. Ingenious devices enable the 'mattress to be lowered or raided at pleasure at one end so that the patient may rest in a comfortable semisitting position. The chart tray, bv simply being swung over the bed-rail, is converted into a small shelf on which eating utensils can be placed.

i VEXTmATIO}? A IMMATURE. On the'boat deck near the stern stands the mortuary—grim token of the realities of war —ami the observation rooms, where patients will remain until the medical diagnosis of their <!ase is complete. The cabins of the officer in charge, the matron, and same of the assistants are also on the same deck, and I di sc quarters are very Him.tr. Tn some I cases additional cabins j:;\vc been specially erected in record time. The .ventilation is a feature of the arrangements. \"ew ventilation shafts have been installed, and oil the lower deck ■the atmosphere is about as fredh as in the open. Comfortable quarters on the deck have been apportioned the ten nurses who will tend the wounded men, and the most up-to-date* ironing and other 'facilities have been provided for their special benefit. The lighting throughout is excellent, especially in the (.perilling room, where extra lights ara available if desired. 'Laundry conveniences, cooking conveniences, a 'bacteriological laboratory, dispensaries, ii blanket-heating room, air fans, clothes bins and mess rooms for ollicers and n...0.'s are scattered about in various parts of the vessel, while the music room on the top deck has been retained for recreation purposes for the nurses and ulliceiv. The. ambulance men have been provided .wit'h quarters Til one of the cargo holds, which has been comprehennively fitted up 'for their accommodation. In case an exceptionally large crowd of wounded is received aboard the vessel will carry many canvas stretchers for use when the other beds are full. , iDnring the whole of the time she is icngaged as a. hospital ship the. iMalieno will |ly the Red Cross flag at her masthead. ' iA-continuous strip of green glass, behind wliidi will he electric lights, will indicate at night time that she is a noneom'batant, while the wide green strip and her striking appearance generally .will serve the same purpose in .the day,time.