The agreement of contemporary and later writers, shews that the published views of the most celebrated physicians of the 14th century, were those generally adopted. Among these, Chalin de Vinario is the most experienced. Though devoted to astrology, still more than his distinguished contemporary, he acknowledges the great power of terrestrial influences, and expresses himself very sensibly on the indisputable doctrine of contagion, endeavouring thereby to apologize for many surgeons and physicians of his time, who neglected their duty.[177] He asserted boldly, and with truth, “_that all epidemic diseases might become contagious,[178] and all fevers epidemic_,” which attentive observers of all subsequent ages have confirmed. [177] De Peste Liber, pura latinitate donatus a _Jacobo Dalechampio_, Lugdun. 1552. 16. p. 40. 188. “Longe tamen plurimi congressu eorum qui fuerunt in locis pestilentibus periclitantur et gravissime, quoniam e causa duplici, nempe et aëris vitio, et eorum qui versantur nobiscum, vitio. _Hoc itaque modo fit, ut unius accessu in totam modo familiam, modo civitatem, modo villam, pestis invehatur._” Compare p. 20, “Solæ privatorum aedes pestem sentiunt, _si adeat qui in pestilenti loco versatus est_.”--“Nobis proximi ipsi sumus, nemoque est tanta occœcatus amentia, qui de sua salute potius quam aliorum sollicitus non sit, maxime in contagione tam cita et rapida.” Rather a loose principle, which might greatly encourage low sentiments, and much endanger the honor of the medical profession, but which, in _Chalin_, who was aware of the impossibility of avoiding contagion in uncleanly dwellings, is so far excusable, that he did not apply it to himself. [178] Morbos omnes pestilentes contagiosos, audacter ego equidem pronuntio et assevero, p. 149.