0"T' LAERT> "! - USP

264 THE MIDDLE AGES.
of honourable and legitimate descent, of irreproachable
character and respectability, at least 26 years old, without
bodily defect or deformity. In some universities the age
was fixed at 28 years, and a concession in respect of
age was only allowed if the candidate did not look too
effeminate and young. Persons who were misshapen or
repulsively ugly were not allowed to take this degree,
and, truly, for a singular reason, namely lest pregnant
women seeing them might bear children with marks to
correspond.
The act of promotion was associated with a public discussion
and various ceremonies which were intended to
typify the acceptance of-the candidate into the medical.
corporation, and to bring plainly before his eyes the high'
significance of his new dignity. The ceremony was performed
with the co-operation of the whole faculty, and
amid the ringing of bells. It began with a discourse by
the candidate for the doctor's degree, the merits of which
were reviewed in a speech by the professor, who conducted
the proceedings. The candidate then took an oath that he
would always fulfil his duties to the faculty and the
medical profession generally; hereupon the so-called ?
' doctor's hat' was placed upon his head, a ring put on his *
finger as a token of the knightly rank, to which the dignity j
of doctor was considered equivalent, a golden belt fastened |
on him, and a book of HIPPOKRATES opened before him. He |
was then invited to sit down by the side of the President, j
who, embracing him, conferred a blessing upon him. The
ceremony closed with the thanks of the new doctor, andfj
was followed by a banquet in which all members of the ]
faculty took part. The expenses of this, in addition to .
the fees which were paid and the presents which were i
given to various persons, made the promotion to the degree ,
of doctor a rather costly affair. In Vienna the candidate!
was under the obligation of presenting one doctor of
the medical faculty with a complete attire ; 14 ells of good
cloth had to be used for this. For the rest, he was by no j