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THE SCHOOL OF SALERNO. 207
passage of her book* In a general way, midwifery consisted
chiefly in the employment of internal remedies and
psychical aids.
The School of Salerno was the first to establish a fixed
and exclusive organization by the introduction of examinations
in obedience to the order of the civic authorities.
King ROGER (RUGGIERO) as early as the year 1140
promulgated the law: "Whoever from this time forth
desires to practise medicine must present himself before
our officials and judges, and be subject to their decision.
Anyone audacious enough to neglect this shall be punished
by imprisonment and confiscation of goods. This decree
has for its object the protection of the subjects of our
kingdom from the dangers arising from the ignorance of
practitioners."f
The Emperor FREDERICK II., of the Hohenstaufen
family, confirmed this law and in the year 1240 gave to
the medical school of Salerno complete rules in regard to
the subjects studied there. He says in his orders : " Since
it is possible for a man to understand medical science, only
if he has previously learnt something of logic, we ordain
that no one shall be permitted to study medicine, until
he has given his attention to logic for three years. After
these three years he may, if he wishes, proceed to the
study of medicine. In this study he must spend five years
during which period he must also acquire a knowledge of
surgery, for this forms a part of medicine. After this, but
not before, permission may be given him to practise,
provided that he passes the examination prescribed by
the authorities and at the same time produces a certificate
showing that he has studied for the period required by the
* DE RENZI : Collect. Salern. i, 149 et seq.—v. SIEBOLD op. cit. i, 317.
t Quisquis admodo mederi voluerit, officialibus nostris et judicibus se presentet,
eorum discutiendus judicio ; quod si sua temeritate presumpserit, carceri con-
slrivgatur bonis suis omnibus publicutis. Hoc enim prospectum est, ne in regno
nostro subjecti periclitenlur ex imperitia medicorum. Hist, diplom. Frid. II
imperat. ed. HUILLARD-BREHOLLES, Paris 1854, T. iv, pars 1, p. 149, tit. 44.