It is gratifying to learn that the chief agents in changing this revolting condition, due to faulty construction and management of hospitals, were women. Prominent among these benefactors of humanity were Mme. Necker, Florence Nightingale, and the wise and alert superiors of the various nursing sisterhoods. [192] How like Chaucer's prioress who "Was so charitable and so piteous, And al was conscience and tender herte." [193] Cf. _Lib. de Virtutibus et Laudibus_, by Aegidius, head physician to Philip Augustus of France, in which occur the following verses: Urbs Phoebo sacrata, Minervae sedula nutrix, Fons physicae, pugil eucrasiae, cultrix medicinae, Assecla Naturae, vitae paranympha, salutis Promula fida; magis Lachesis soror, Atropos hostis. Morbi pernicies, gravis adversaria mortis. quoted in the appendix, p. xxxii, to S. de Renzi's, _Storia Documentata della Scuola Medica di Salerno_, Naples, 1857. [194] Cf. The introduction to the English translation of the _Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum_, p. 28, by J. Ordronaux, Philadelphia, 1870. [195] "Immortal praise adorns Salerno's name To seek whose shrine the world once came." [196] See _Storia Documentata della Scuola Medica di Salerno_, ut. sup., p. 474 et seq., and p. lxxvi et seq. of Appendix; also Ordronaux, ut sup., p. 16. [197] Probably her most noted work is the one which bears the title _De Morbis Mulierum et Eorum Cura_--The Diseases of Women and Their Cure. [198] "Physicae quoque scientiam tam copiose habuit ut in urbe Psaleritana, ubi maxime medicorum scholae ab antiquo tempore habentur, neminem in medicinali arte, praeter quandam sapientem matronam, sibi parem inveniret." Migne, Patrologiae Latinae, Tom. 188, Col. 260. [199] As this decree is of singular interest and importance, a copy of the original is here given in full: