INTRODUCTION. 15 
regular university. Ruggiero king of Sicily, about 
the year 1137, enacted a law, that all who designed 
to practise medicine should be examined and ap- 
proved by his officials and judges, under the penalty 
of the confiscation of all their goods. By officials it 
is supposed that the physicians of Salerno were 
understood, as he had lately given great privileges 
to that city. The emperor Frederic the second, 
having established likewise an university at Naples, 
published edicts for its government, which were 
finally promulgated in 1231. The study of physic, 
and lectures in that art, were restrained to those two 
universities. Students were to apply themselves to 
logic for three years before they commenced the 
study of medicine, which they were to pursue for 
five years. Nor were they then admitted till they 
had practised for one year under an expert physician. 
After a public examination the university of Salerno 
had full power to grant a license to practise, that of 
Naples could only certify the sufficiency of the can- 
didate to the king, or his chancellor, who granted the 
licence. The names of doctor and master were not 
then known as specific titles of honour, but were 
used in their original significations, for teachers, or 
persons skilled in their art. The licenced prac- 
titioners took an oath to observe the regulations 
respecting medicines, to inform the court if apothe- 
