The Sisters of Ambergris Travelling Apothecary Carts

The Sisters of Ambergris are a longstanding order of religious healers who, by tradition, travel the backroads of Ambergris providing healing to the poor. They travel the countryside by mule pulled caravan carts that provide a consolation space, operation area and a fully stocked pharmacy. The carts are called "Travelling Apothecaries" and have become famous as "travelling landmarks" in rural areas. They usually travel in a pair of carts and will usually stay in a village for about 5 to 7 days. The Red Carts are set up for general medicine practice while the Green carts are set up for the delivery of dentistry.
The Travelling Apothecaries Carts date back about 1,300 years when Reverend Sister Maggie started the healing order of sisters and modified the first caravan cart to fit a medical service role. The basic design of the caravan carts is continuously improving, but the same general design has become iconic to the Sisters of Ambergris and is now a very recognisable landmark feature of the order being seen through the country on the country back roads.

The travelling apothecary caravan carts, the medicine within the carts and the sisters themselves have been traditionally funded by donations from the middle and upper classes of society, to provide basic medical support to the wider rural communities. In this way, the working class is supported, remains generally healthy, and has improved overall quality of life. The service from the Sisters of Ambergris is free to the poor, but local civic leaders are pressured for donations whenever the carts are in the district.
There is approximately 3,000 travelling apothecary carts in Ambergris and about 18,000 Sisters in the Sisters of Ambergris order. The carts are very colourful to attract attention at a greater distance and can usually last up to about 70 years with regular maintenance. The Sisters go through a 4-year training programme in one of the 5 Apothecary Institutions in Ambergris and then have a 10-year on-the-road apprenticeship before they are allowed to be the Lead Sister on the caravan carts. As part of the Apothecary Institutions, there is also a travelling apothecary caravan cart manufacturing facility and a hospital within each Institute.

Type

Apothecary