Many people associated with St John Ambulance historical · Ashford litters were in use as late as...
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March 2014 7KH 1HZVOHWWHU RI 6W -RKQ $PEXODQFH 6RXWK $XVWUDOLD +2: ',' ´67 -2+1 AMBULANCE” GET ITS NAME? Many people associated with St John Ambulance have heard of the “Ashford” litter. A litter consists of a GHPRXQWDEOH VWUHWFKHU ÀWWHG WR FDUW ZKHHOV ODWHU ELF\FOH wheels). The Ashford litter was developed by Sir John Furley who played a major role in establishing St John in England in the 1880s. The litter was patented in 1875 as “the St John Ambulance”, so the name of our organisation actually arose from this means of transporting ill and injured patients. The word “ambulance” comes from the Latin “ambulare” meaning to walk or amble. Those attending the patient had to walk with the litter. Sir John Furley was from a place called Ashford in Kent, UK, and he had the prototype constructed locally at Headley’s :KHHO :RUNV /DWHU PRGHOV ZHUH ÀWWHG ZLWK SQHXPDWLF tyres, waterproof covers, fold-back hoods and telescopic handles. Hundreds were made and exported around the world. Ashford litters were in use as late as the 1920s. One of these original ”St John Ambulances” is in our museum. Less well known is the “Rea - Edwards” litter. It was developed in about 1902, probably in Germany as the two web-sites that refer to it are in German. The St John Ambulance Museum in Edmund Avenue, Unley, has one of these too. It may well be the only one in Australia. The under-carriage or wheeled portion of the litter is Next question: 7KH ÀUVW DLG NLW PHQWLRQHG DERYH FRQWDLQHG D GUHGJHU What is a dredger? historical KDSSHQLQJV Answer to the previous question: Dr. EAH Russell and Dr. HHE Russell were brothers. GHVLJQHG WR FDUU\ HLWKHU D )XUOH\ RU D &OHPHWVRQ VWUHWFKHU $ KRRG FRXOG EH ÀWWHG WR WKH VWUHWFKHU WR SURWHFW WKH FDVXDOW\ IURP LQFOHPHQW ZHDWKHU 7KH ZKHHOV RI WKH OLWWHU FRXOG EH ÀWWHG ZLWK VROLG UXEEHU W\UHV LURQ W\UHV or pneumatic bicycle-like tyres. The example we have has the more comfortable pneumatic tyres. The Rea- (GZDUGV KDV RQO\ WZR OHJV DQG WKH\ DUH À[HG DQG DW WKH IRRW HQG RI WKH OLWWHU $W WKH KHDG HQG LV D VLQJOH combined leg and handle; when down it serves as a leg, when raised it is a handle used for steering. The axle is not under the middle of the stretcher, but nearer the head end, allowing for better balance when in use with a casualty. In 1912, the purchase price for just the Rea – Edwards under-carriage was 10 English pounds ($20) and for a basic, complete litter (including stretcher) it was fourteen pounds, three shillings and sixpence. Also in 1912, for a further 2 pounds 10 shillings, a First Aid box could be purchased to be carried below the axle of the Rea – Edwards litter. The contents of the box are now of historical interest: 1 set of splints, 12 triangular bandages, 12 roller bandages, cotton wool, Boric lint, adhesive plaster, scissors, knife, Tinct. Iodine B.P.C., Sal Volatile, Boric Acid powder, dredger, glass graduated measure, kidney-shaped dressing basin, St John tourniquet, pins, needles, thread, tape, two saucers, and two camel hair brushes. Brian Fotheringham Chairman
Transcript of Many people associated with St John Ambulance historical · Ashford litters were in use as late as...
March 2014
AMBULANCE” GET ITS NAME?Many people associated with St John Ambulance have heard of the “Ashford” litter. A litter consists of a
wheels). The Ashford litter was developed by Sir John Furley who played a major role in establishing St John in England in the 1880s. The litter was patented in 1875 as “the St John Ambulance”, so the name of our organisation actually arose from this means of transporting ill and injured patients. The word “ambulance” comes from the Latin “ambulare” meaning to walk or amble. Those attending the patient had to walk with the litter.
Sir John Furley was from a place called Ashford in Kent, UK, and he had the prototype constructed locally at Headley’s
tyres, waterproof covers, fold-back hoods and telescopic handles. Hundreds were made and exported around the world. Ashford litters were in use as late as the 1920s. One of these original ”St John Ambulances” is in our museum.
Less well known is the “Rea - Edwards” litter. It was developed in about 1902, probably in Germany as the two web-sites that refer to it are in German. The St John Ambulance Museum in Edmund Avenue, Unley, has one of these too. It may well be the only one in Australia.
The under-carriage or wheeled portion of the litter is
Next question:
What is a dredger?
historical
Answer to the previous question:
Dr. EAH Russell and Dr. HHE Russell were brothers.
or pneumatic bicycle-like tyres. The example we have has the more comfortable pneumatic tyres. The Rea-
combined leg and handle; when down it serves as a leg, when raised it is a handle used for steering. The axle is not under the middle of the stretcher, but nearer the head end, allowing for better balance when in use with a casualty.
In 1912, the purchase price for just the Rea – Edwards under-carriage was 10 English pounds ($20) and for a basic, complete litter (including stretcher) it was fourteen pounds, three shillings and sixpence.
Also in 1912, for a further 2 pounds 10 shillings, a First Aid box could be purchased to be carried below the axle of the Rea – Edwards litter. The contents of the box are now of historical interest: 1 set of splints, 12 triangular bandages, 12 roller bandages, cotton wool, Boric lint, adhesive plaster, scissors, knife, Tinct. Iodine B.P.C., Sal Volatile, Boric Acid powder, dredger, glass graduated measure, kidney-shaped dressing basin, St John tourniquet, pins, needles, thread, tape, two saucers, and two camel hair brushes.
Brian Fotheringham Chairman
