WOMEN IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY 283 



sician. ' ' 1 But the noblest claims of the Hippocratic city 

 to the gratitude of humanity yet remain to be told. A 

 German traveler in the thirteenth century wrote : 



"Laudibus seternum nullum negat esse Salernum 

 Illuc pro morbis totus circumfluit orbis." 2 



This was because Salerno was universally recognized as 

 the "day star'* and "morning glory" of the best culture in 

 the healing art, and, still more, because of the thorough 

 instruction she gave in her schools of medicine and the pre- 

 eminence she so long held in every department of medical 

 lore. 



The course of study in medicine was long and thorough, 

 and the candidate applying for a degree had to pass a 

 rigid examination and give proof not only of his profi- 

 ciency in every branch of the healing art, but also of per- 

 fect acquaintance with the various branches of science and 

 letters as well. At the time of Frederick II, who organ- 

 ized all the different schools of Salerno into a single uni- 

 versity, a three years' course in philosophy and literature 

 was required before one could present himself for entrance 

 into the school of medicine. The courses in medicine lasted 

 five years, at least, after which a year of practice with an 

 old physician was required. In addition to this, if the 

 candidate wished to practice surgery he was obliged to 

 devote one year to the study of human anatomy and to the 

 dissection of human bodies. Considering the progress of 

 knowledge since the time of Frederick II, it must be ad- 

 mitted that the legal requirements enforced by the faculty 

 of Salerno compare favorably with those of the best of our 

 medical schools of to-day. 



Still more to the credit of Salerno, long known as the 



1 Cf . The introduction to the English translation of the Regimen 

 Sanitatis Salernitanum, p. 28, by J. Ordronaux, Philadelphia, 1870. 



2 ' ' Immortal praise adorns Salerno 's name 



To seek whose shrine the world once came. tr 



