HOSPITALLERS 62 HOSPITAL SHIPS Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the Her- bert Hospital of Woolwich, the New York Hospital, the United States Marine Hos- Tjiital of San Francisco are among the best examples of the pavilion style. Hospitals or asylums for inebriates, likewise hospitals for those addicted to ' the use of opium and other narcotics, have lately been established throughout the United States. Fever hospitals are maintained in all communities to secure isolation in infectious diseases, and hos- pital ships and floating hospitals are ex- tremely valuable to promote complete isolation in cases of virulently infective disorders, such as Smallpox {q. v.), etc. Military and naval hospitals, estab- lishments for the care of sick and wounded soldiers and seamen, exist in all civilized nations. For military hos- pitals in the World War see Red Cross; also consult "Manual Medical Dept. U. S. A." (Washington, 1916). HOSPITALLERS, or ORDER OP ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM, a military or- der originated in a monastery, chapel, and hospital, founded at Jerusalem by Pome merchants of Amalphi, in 1048. In 1099 the hospital received increased ter- ritories from Godfrey de Bouillon, who transferred its government from the monks to his knights. In 1113 they were confirmed as a spiritual order by Pope Pascal II. The Hospitallers greatly dis- tinguished themselves in the crusades at Jerusalem in 1152, and at Acre in 1191. In 1308 their order was united with that of St. Samson of Jerusalem. They conquered Rhodes, Aug. 15, 1309. Their wealth was much increased in 1311 by the addition of the possessions of the suppressed Templars. In 1321 they de- feated the Turks in a great naval battle, and in 1341 took Smyrna. They took Alexandria in 1365, and in 1480 com- pelled Mohammed II. to retreat from Rhodes. In 1498 the possessions of the dissolved orders of the Holy Sepulcher and of St. Lazarus were bestowed upon the Hospitallers. In 1522 they were compelled to quit Rhodes by Soliman II., who besieged their garrison, and in 1530 they were allowed to settle in Malta. HOSPITAL CORPS. UNITED STATES, a body of men attached to the United States army, whose duty it is to perform the duties connected with the field hospital and ambulance service under officials of the Medical Depart- ment. The recruits belonging to the corps are trained for the special services required of them, such as the giving of first aid to the wounded, the convey- ance of stretchers and the handling of ambulances. While the members of the corps are given a certain amount of military instruction, and are subjected to the physical training of ordinary en- listed men, this is only given in view of emergencies, and they are not provided with arms. Military posts are all pro- vided with units of the Hospital Corps, one non-commissioned officer to each four privates. During war these numbers are increased and regiments are accom- panied by Hospital Corps detachments, with post surgeons, non-commissioned officers and privates in proportion to eventualities. The corps in war works in connection with the Red Cross, the Sanitary Service, and the other services having a common purpose, but the work is subdivided, so that there is no over- lapping from the time the soldier is wounded till his removal to base hospital and home territory. HOSPITAL SHIPS, ships having as their purpose the care of the sick and wounded in time of war. It was pro- vided by the Geneva Convention in 1868 that hospital ships should be allowed to proceed unmolested by belligerents on either side, if they fulfilled the necessary regulations. These regulations were to the effect that the ship should have no arms on board, should indicate its char- acter clearly by flying the Red Cross flag, by being painted white with a broad green stripe on each side extending from bow to stern, if a government ship, and a red stripe if a ship not in the service of a government. It was to be per- mitted to belligerents on either side to visit the ship to see that these regula- tions were being adhered to, and immu- nity was only assured in each case. If it was discovered that the ship in question carried arms, officers and enlisted men unwounded and not in the hospital serv- ice, or military supplies, or was being used for any purpose other than those indicated, it at once lost its immunity and could be treated as a belligerent vessel. In most countries of Europe hospital ships are regularly in service as units in the naval service, but before the entry of the United States into the late Eu- ropean War such ships, apart from one ship, the "Solace," were not provided for by the United States, though the person- nel capable of manning them received a preliminary training from the Medical Department. Since the European War a number of vessels used during the period of hostilities have been detailed for con- tinued use in the service as hospital ships, and officers and men have con- tinued to receive valuable training from the experiences gained during the war. In time of peace hospital ships are
