that the majority of Ambulancers are without the least knowledge regarding the historical aspect of their subject, and I make this a reason for writing a short paper on it. But then, if the ignorance of which I speak were confined only to the lay people who work for the Association in various capacities, I should have no justifica- tion whatever for writing such an article for a medical journal intended mostly for professional readers. It is perhaps sufficient excuse for me when I say that I have found a great many medical men in this country?medical men actually engaged as teachers and examiners in ambulance work?ignorant of the history of the Association under whose auspices they are render- ing such valuable service, and ignorant of the origin of the work itself to which they are so devotedly interesting themselves. The history of the St. John Ambulance Asso- ciation, which as such came into existence only in 1877, dates very far back, to the exciting times of the Middle Ages. Let the reader carry himself back to the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries and recall the period of the Crusades, that series of military expeditions undertaken by some of the Christian nations of Europe with the object of wresting Jerusalem from the hands of the Mahomedans. Let him THE ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION. call back to mind the times which extended, with A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH. varying fortunes for the Crusaders, from the year 1096 when Godfrey of Bouillon led his first By O. ST. JOHN MOSES, m.d., d.sc., f.r.c.s. (En.), which resulted in the of MAJOR, I.M.S., enterprise conquest Jerusalem, the liberation of the Holy Land from Honorary Secretary, Calcutta-Benrjal Provincial Centre. the yoke of the Egyptians, and the exchange of " " Nearly three decades have gone by since the his title of Protector of the Holy Sepulchre work of the St. John Ambulance Association was for that of King. I say, let him review the period first introduced into India, and nearly one since extending from then till about 1271, which year it was taken up in real earnest in this country. saw the end of the eighth and last expedition, Several years have passed since I first inter- an unsuccessful one, under the leadership of ested myself in the Association and its workers, Louis IX of France. This was a period of history and I may be pardoned if I make the assertion pregnant with important events. They were that not a very large proportion of its innumer- times during which millions of lives were lost able workers have ever sought to know the and countless treasures sacrificed to vain enter- origin of the institution or the way in which prises, and that without the dream of the its wonderful work originally came into exist- Christian people being realized, without a Chris- ence. During the past few years I have seen tian Kingdom being established at the city of hundreds, nay thousands, of persons of both the Holy Sepulchre. sexes, all colours, castes, and creeds, identify It is on record that about the middle of the themselves with the work of the St. John eleventh century, towards the end of the reign Ambulance Association, take up most zealously of William the Conqueror in England, a small the study of First Aid to the Injured and band of Italian merchants from a little town in Home Hygiene, acquire a standard of know- the province of Salterno received the permission ledge most creditable to themselves, and render of the Sultan to build a hospital within the walls the most useful service indeed to the sick and of Jerusalem. To this hospital were admitted the injured. And yet, if asked what is the poor pilgrims who found their way to the city. Association to which they belong and what In the last year of that century, in 1099, one the history of its origin, they could, I am sure, of the founders of the hospital was appointed by give no answer. Possibly they have never been Godfrey to be the first Master of that institution. enlightened on these points ; perhaps in many His successor, one Raymound du Puy, nineteen cases they have not had the time or the facility to years later, conceived the idea of forming the discover for themselves. Yet the truth remains, fraternity of the Hospital into a new Order of Oct., 1915.J ORIGIN OF ST. JOHN'S AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION. 363 In 1557 it was re-established under and whose members should combine in Phillip Knighthood Later, Elizabeth confiscated all the themselves the functions of soldier, Mary. pro- triple priest, of the Order she did not dissolve and This then formed the et perty though physician. fons the (hder itself. In 1830. the of origo of the work of the during reign great present-day aiding William IV. there was a final revival. His sufferer both in peace and in war. The plan formerly Grand Prior, is now of the Master was and it soon present Majesty, highly approved, the of the Order. Since 1911 His achieved the the sovereign greatest popularity, sovereigns the Duke of has been of of land and of Royal Highness Connaught Europe granting large gifts Grand Prior of the Order of the Hospital of St. and many nobles placing money, distinguished John of Jerusalem in England. St. John's Gate, their services at the disposal of the brotherhood. with its numerous curiosities and its treasures, In this way a new Order came about, its formerly occupied by the English Hospitallers at members in themselves "the piety of combining Clerkenwell, is now the home of the English Order. the priest, the devotion of the physician, and So far, however, as the department of the work the enthusiasm of the soldier." It is this Order, of the Order known as ambulance work is con- the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, which, it did not claim the earnest attention of with its varied has survived all cerned, history, through as Europe until as late the latter half of the these centuries, has so important a part played nineteenth century. When Napoleon III started in human affairs, and which, in its present form, his 1859 campaign, the horrors of war as seen at promotes more than ever the humanitarian and Solferino showed that with which it was founded. Magenta manifestly objects the medical service of even what were The of the Grand Master regular headquarters ruling then considered the largest armies of the world this brotherhood shifted from Jeru- gradually was to cope with the salem to thence further westward to the utterly inadequate large Acre, numbers of those wounded in modern warfare. island of Rhodes, until finally about the middle was found to be lacking?doctors, of the sixteenth a transfer took to Everything century place comforts, and even food and water. Malta. Here the remained and flourish- appliances, Knights All that was sufficient for the army's needs in times ed until they were dislodged by Napoleon I in of peace broke down in its working during the 1798. The sovereignty of the island of Malta stress of war, owing to insufficiency. Enlighten- was granted to the of the Order Knights by ment and considerations of humanity pointed Charles V, Emperor of Germany, of King Spain, to the necessity for an organisation of and Ruler of the Federation of States known as clearly voluntary medical aid societies to help the public the Holy Roman The island was Empire. medical services and to render prompt and fortified by the Knights, who also improved their aid to the injured in times of emergency. navy, were able to establish them- adequate whereby they Public interest was soon aroused as the need selves of all commerce protectors peaceful against on for an movement these lines was the the Levant and the Mediterra- organised pirates infesting out. in on all nean pointed Sympathy poured sides, generally. and Switzerland taking the lead, the Geneva The of Malta at no time lost of Knights sight Convention was held in 18G4. This diplomatic their medical duties, and they built, equipped, conference of representatives of the leading and maintained for over 250 years a hospital, European powers formulated international rules which in fact is the present military hospital at the for the purpose of securing neutrality in Valetta. The were soldier- Knights Hospitallers | warfare of hospitals, ambulance parties, and others priests who were enough to that gallant recognise I concerned in affording relief to the sick and the the of a sick man's wounds was as healing knightly 1 such aiders wearing the Geneva Cross, a service to as the of a wounded, perform vanquishing as a of a red cross on a white ground, badge office. foe " in the field. The Grand Master appointed " Regarding the Sign of the Red Cross the special medical men whose duty it was to teach " " French poem Le Brassard by Vte. the Knights of the Order First Aid to the Injured. legendary de Borelli, as translated by H. N. Ralston, relates soon after the Order was founded Meanwhile, how the Goddess of Pity who was in it was introduced into Jerusalem, England, " her where it established its headquarters at Clerken- winging way To the field of battle where a young soldier lay," well, then a village near London, now almost the very heart of the City. In England it rapidly and how, " attained great power and influence, and the Priory She smilingly sought out a white linen band, at Clerkenwell became considerable in extent and All untaught in letters, yet deft was her hand, She in his life-blood her so was associated with a hospital, thus maintaining dipped finger fair, And the fine linen?lo ! the Red Cross the medical character of the of St.