74 A Short History of Nursing Many, later, acquired learning, and studied and taught in the universities. They were said to have gained much practical knowledge of medicine. Later centuries showed a gradual change, making the Poor Clarissas a contemplative, enclosed order, of the most austere type, while the Brothers forgot manual labour in the easier career of begging, and became, often, a general nuisance. But while the spirit of St. Francis remained with them they were a fresh and inspiring example of youthful idealism. St. Francis's spirit and ideals were most widely distributed by the order of tertiaries which he founded. In this order the practice of orders: Ter- the early Christians was fully revived, tianes, etc. -^^ members were not to leave their homes nor renounce the world, but were to carry their religion into their everyday life, and share continually in some unselfish, useful service to humanity. Practical work with the poor, afflicted, and sick was taken up with enthusiasm by the tertiaries. Such orders still exist in Italy, the members volunteering for hospital work, friendly visiting, burying the dead, carrying patients to hospitals, etc. The flexible nature of the Third Order adapted it well to nursing, and it became extremely popu- lar with men and women who were attracted to the
