302 Medical Brotherhood [June-September 



knowledge became specialized, medical men more and more devoted 

 their activity exclusively to medical practice. Because of its in- 

 efficiency at that time medicine lost its prestige. In recent times, 

 however, medicine is becoming an effective science ; one marvelous 

 discovery has followed another, and the efficiency o£ medical prac- 

 tice has been rapidly increasing. Medicine makes habitable to man 

 hitherto uninhabitable parts of the world. It prevents disease ; and, 

 with increasing theoretical and practical efficiency, medicine is learn- 

 ing to alleviate and eure disease and prevent injuries. Medical sci- 

 ences and medical men have steadily risen in the esteem of civilized 

 mankind. May not the medical sciences and medical men become 

 again the Standard bearers of morality, especiaUy of international 

 morals? 



To accomplish these objects, it is proposed to organize as large 

 and effective an Association as may be possible, of men and women 

 engaged in the medical sciences or in medical practice, under the 

 name of 



THE MEDICAL BROTHERHOOD 



Für the Furtherance of International Morality 



It is obvious that such a Brotherhood could not exercise an im- 

 portant influence at once. But our modest expectation for prompt 

 results should not prevent us from attempting now to take the first 

 Step in the riglit direction. Many important results have often had 

 small beginnings. 



A committee of physicians and medical investigators regnest you 

 herewith to enroll as a member, and to declare your ivillingness to 

 endorse and siipport the moral Standard which the medical profes- 

 sion generaUy upholds when called lipon to perform its patriotic 

 duties in international strife. 



It should be expressly understood that it is not the object of 

 the proposed Brotherhood to influence the feelings and views of 

 anyone regarding the problems involved in the present war. It 

 is desired merely to bring to the füll consciousness of the members 

 of the medical profession the exceptional moral position which all 

 civilized nations, even while at war, perniit and expect medical men 

 to occupy, at least so long as they remain in the medical profession 

 and act in this capacity. This consciousness cannot fail to elevate 



