138 Medical Brotherhood 



the country will be called upon to defend itself. It may come sud- 

 denly, like a holt from the skies, which are surely not clear at the 

 present time. Physicians who are not devoid of a sense of duty 

 should, therefore, prepare themselves with the necessary knowledge 

 and skill, and should in large numbers inform the military medical 

 department of their willingness to serve in case of need. The 

 hygienist, bacteriologist, internist, etc., can be of just as much Serv- 

 ice as the surgeon in the incidents of war. The medical man who 

 marches with the scouts ahead of the army tD select camps, to test 

 the drinking water, etc., is as important as those who work behind 

 the lines. And the medical man whose daily work brings him in con- 

 tact with infectious and contagious diseases is trained in courage as 

 high as the veteran of many battles ; bacteria are as deadly as bullets ; 

 and in his daily work the physician, like the man on the firing line, 

 never knows when they may strike him. 



On the other hand, the practitioner knows now quite well what 

 importance is to be attached to sympathetic psychical treatment of 

 patients who are in need of it. A training to preserve humaneness 

 in the midst of passion and hatred ought to be a part of medical 

 preparedness. After furious battles the poor injured prisoner of 

 war needs often this mode of treatment as much as the surgical one. 



The Medical Brotherhood of this country wishes to gather into 

 its Union those members of the medical profession who have a vein 

 of idealism in them and who are willing to serve their country as 

 patriots and humanitarians. It appeals further to the inspired ones 

 to spread this gospel, wherever they find the proper opportunity, with 

 impressiveness combined with patience and tolerance. 



Rockefeiler Institute for Medical Research, 

 New York City. 



