In South’s “Craft of Surgery” is a most interesting and full account of =John of Arderne=, one of the earliest English writers on surgery. This worthy was a specialist for the cure of fistula, and dwelt at Newark between 1349 and 1370, when he moved to London. His work “Praxis Medica” is among the Sloane Manuscripts in the British Museum. He made his great reputation by curing Sir Adam Everyngham of fistula after he had been pronounced incurable by the chief doctors in France. He relates the cases (some of them with details) of other patients. The most interesting of the writings of John of Arderne is that entitled “Of ye Manere of ye Leche,” because it throws a flood of light on professional manners and ethics in the fourteenth century. The following paragraphs (taken from South) are well worth quoting; but in doing so I think it advisable to (in some degree) modernise the spelling and the expressions:--“First, it behoveth him that will profit in this craft that he set God ever before him in all his works, and evermore call meekly with heart and mouth his help, and occasionally, according to his power, give of his earnings to the poor, that they by their prayers may get him grace of the Holy Ghost. Let him not be found rash or boastful in his words or deeds. And let him abstein from much speaking, especially among the great. And let him answer questions warily, lest he be overtaken by his words.... Also be a leche not much laughing nor much playing, and let him as much as may be fly the fellowship of knaves and disreputable persons. And be he evermore occupied in things beholding to his craft, whether he read or study, write or pray, for the exercise of books whorshippeth a leche.... And above all this, it profiteth to him that he be found evermore sober, for drunkenness destroyeth all virtue, and bringeth it to nought, as sayth a wise man. Be he content in strange places with the meat and drink there found, using measure in all things.... Scorn he no man.... And if there be made speech to him of any leche, neither set him at nought, nor praise him too much, nor commend him, but thus may he courteously answer: ‘I have not any knowledge of him, but I have neither learned nor heard of him but good and honest.’... Consider he not over openly the lady or the daughters, or other fair women in great men’s houses, ‘ne profre them not to kisse, ... that he come not in to the indignacion of the lord ne of noon of his.’... When such men come to the leche to ask help or counsel, it speedeth that he make seeming excuses, that he may not incline to their asking without harming or without indignation of some great man or friend, or for necessary occupation; or feign he him hurt, or for to be sick, or some other convenient cause by which he may likely be excused. Therefore if he will favour to any man’s asking, make he covenant for his travail and take it beforehand.... And if he see the patient, pursue busily