The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-19
DAY OF WOMEN PHYSICIANS
New York Times.l


Those accustomed to think OF the wo-
man physician as a somewhat rare
product of the ninteenth century may
be surprised to learn that there were
well equipped women doctors in abun-
dance a thousand years ago and that
they were taught by distinguished wo-
men professors in a medical college.
Such. however, is the fact, amply borne
out by competent written testimony.
The notable educational institution
which graduated women doctors was at
SalernO, and probably was founded in
the ninth century. Several textbooks
written by women professors of the Sa-
lernO school are still in existence. One
of these works is by Professor Trotula,
who taught in the eleventh century, ac-
cord1ng TO Professor James J. Walsh,
dean of the Fordham University School
of Medicine, who delivered an address
on Early Medical Schools and Legal
Regulation" before the faculty some
time ago, and which was printed later
in the Medical Record. The history of
the medical school at Salerno upsets
the theory that co-education is a mod
ern idea in practice
AS consequence of the high stand
ard of medical education reached at the
University of Salerno." says Professor
walsh, "a corresponding evolution I'm
professional dignity took place, and the
rights, of physicians were secured by
legal regulations that are extremely in
teresting, because they represent the
securing by these colleagues of ours 700
years ago of legal regulations such as
we have been striving for for the bet
ter part of a century, and have only
succeeded in attaining in recent years.
AS matter of fact, it is not too much
ho
quite the standard of professional edu-
cation which was required by law in
the early part of the thirteenth century
in the country of which Salerno was the
representative medical university.
The only way to make this state
ment very clear is by presenting the
documents in the case. The most i'm
portant of these is the famous law of
Frederick II, who was the king of the
two Sicilies, and who afterward be-
came the German emperor. This law,
often referred to by medical historians.
has only recently been published i'm its
entirety by Robert Ritter Won TopIv.
the well known Viennese historian of
medicine. In this, Emperor Frederick
lays down very definitely three propo-
sitions that are almost startling in their
modernness.
First, the student of medicine must
have three years preliminary study in
a university. Second, he must study
medicine for five years, and then prac-
tice only under the direction of a physi-
clan for full year before beginning
to practice himself. If he wishes to
practice surgery he must study anat-
omy for year in addition to this
Ihlrd, he must exercise great care with
regard to the drugs that he prescribes
and see that the druggist supplies them
in all their purity. Various regula tons
are ADDED for the druggist, making this
the first pure drug law.
fredericks law opens with a para |
graph in which he declares his interest ]
IN the health of his subjects. and how
much that is dependent on the proDer
medical education of their physicians.
Whlle we are bent on making regu- !
latlons tor the common veal of our
loyal subjects, we keep ever under our
observation the health of the individ- |
uai. In consideration of the serious /
damage and the irrepaTabIe suffering |
winch may occur as a consequence of |
the lnexperlence of physicians. we de-
cree that no one in future who claims /
the title Of physician shall exercise the /
ART OF heallng, or dare to treat the all /
ing, except such as have beforehand in /
our University of Salerno passed 2 NUN
TIC examination under a regular teacher
of medicine and been given a certificate
not only by the professors of medicine |
but also by one of our civil officials
which declares his trustworthiDess of
character and sufficiency of knowledge |
Violation of this law is 20 be punished /
by confiscation of goods and a wear in
prison for all those who in future dare
to practice medicine without such per
mission from our authority
Considering the buying power of
money, the legal fees were about what
they are at the present time. That is.
a man was allowed to charge from L.
tarrene to 1 tarTene, equivalent to about |
81 to 50 I'm our money, unless ne went |
out of town, when he was allowed also
to add his expenses and nearly to dou-
bic his fee
Every physician was required to
take an oath that whenever il came To |
his knowledge that any apothecarv had 1
for sale drugs that were less than nor /
NAL strength he should report the mat
ter to the court Il
There is scarcely feature of o11r
modern progress in the regulation of 1
medical education and professional 4
practice that is not contained in tbis 4
law of the early part of the thirteenth l
century"
MANN NOT GUILTY.