Military Influences 65 surrounding lepers. Too little is known of its work in detail, probably because of its very difficulties. As leprosy, or the ailments classed under that general name, died out of Europe, the order of St. Lazarus became extinct. In recent times its name and badge have been adopted by the most modern nursing group in Germany — the "Free Sisters," of whom we will hear in a later chapter. The hospitals at Jerusalem under the miHtary nursing orders retained certain features of the xenodochium. They gave board to the •1 • 11 , Hospital pilgnm and alms to the poor as well as work under care to the sick. Asylums for found- knightly orders Imgs were a part of later hospitals under their care. Army hospitals were a special feature of the St. John's order and of the Teutonic Knights, and these were often filled to overflowing with wounded soldiers. In their work we get the first glimpse of army nursing since the days of the Roman orderly, and the hospitallers may be con- sidered as the real founders of modem army nursing by professional nurses. Many of the hospitals built by the Knights Hospitallers were of the utmost architectural beauty, and were furnished in the most complete way known to their times. At Valetta the patients were served from silver dishes, and linen was
