Medical atlanticism.

The term 'Atlanticism' is used to define the cooperation between Western European and North American nations, usually in matters of politics or defence. The purpose of this paper is to show that from the time of the Spanish conquistadors, there has been an effective communication in medical matters across the Atlantic that can best be defined as 'Medical Atlanticism'. As colonies developed in North America, there were increasing contacts with European nations. During the eighteenth century, the University of Edinburgh played a major role but later, in the nineteenth century, France, then Germany and Vienna, shaped the development of medicine in the United States. Britain was to be greatly influenced by the example of first Germany, then the United Staes. Today, 'Medical Atlanticism' is an outmoded term since medicine has become global.