Whereas, It is held that the Red Cross, which now constitutes the main character in the official badge of the American Medical Association, is eminently distinctive of certain broader fields of philanthropy, rather than of medicine in particular, and
Whereas, The traditions of medicine would be fully satisfied by the adoption of a design as herewith submitted and described as follows:
A shield on which is emblazoned the American eagle holding in its talons a laurel wreath within which is the knotty rod and entwined serpent and the letters A. M. A.; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the American Medical Association adopt as its official insignia or badge this design.
Protect the Red Cross.
Issued by the New York State Branch.
When the Red Cross insignia was first adopted at the Geneva Convention, as a sign of a hospital in war, and for many years after that, no one dreamed of using it as a mark on goods sold in trade. Gradually, however, such use became more common, and a badge of humanity, which men in the midst of warfare respected, became more and more, in trade, a meaningless label, applied to all kinds of medicinal boxes, bottles and jars, and every other conceivable package and bundle.
The badge of the Red Cross in America would have become a mere commercial mark but for the efforts of the American Red Cross and its branches.
We have worked hard to stop this wrongful use of the red cross, and we appeal to you to help us in this work, and to respect the law, for the unauthorized use of the red cross is in violation of a Federal statute. Help us to make the red cross what it should be, the badge which stands for humanity, and help to those who suffer in war and in calamities of all kinds. Help us to do this by stopping the use of the red cross or using the words red cross on your own articles of commerce and by urging others to do the same.