[208] Thomas Aquinas, the Angel of the Schools, who had taught in Salerno, and was well acquainted with the leading universities of Europe, was wont to say "Quattuor sunt urbes caeteris praeeminentes, Parisius in Scientiis, Salernum in Medicinis, Bononia in legibus, Aurelianis in actoribus--" there are four preeminent cities: Paris, in the sciences; Salerno, in medicine; Bologna, in law; Orleans, in actors. Op. 17. _De Virtutibus et Vitiis_, Cap. ult. The mediaeval poet, Galfrido, expressed the same idea in verse when he wrote: "In morbis sanat medici virtute Salernum Aegros: in causis Bononia legibus armat Nudos: Parisius dispensat in artibus illos Panes, unde cibat robustos: Aurelianis Educat in cunis actorum lacte tenellos." [209] It may be remarked that it was a woman, Lady Mary Montagu, who introduced inoculation with small-pox virus into Western Europe, and that it was also a woman--a simple English milkmaid--who communicated to Jenner the information which led to his discovery of a prophylactic against small-pox. But of far greater importance was the introduction into Europe of that priceless febrifuge and antiperiodic--chinchona bark. This was due to the Countess of Chinchon, vicereine of Peru. Having been cured by its virtues of an aggravated case of tertian fever in 1638, while living in Lima, she lost no time, on her return to Spain, in making known to the world the marvelous curative properties of the precious quinine-producing bark. The powder made from the bark was most appropriately called _Pulvis Comitessae_--the countess's powder--and by this name it was long known to druggists and in commerce. Thanks to Linnaeus, the memory of the gracious lady will always be kept green, because her name is now borne by nearly eight score species of the beautiful trees which constitute the great and incomparable genus Chinchona. See _A Memoir of the Lady Ana de Osorio, Countess of Chinchon, and Vice-Queen of Peru_, by Clements R. Markham, London, 1874. [210] _Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women_, p. 70, by Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, London, 1895. [211] Ibid., p. 91. [212] "Young ladies all, of every clime, Especially of Britain Who wholly occupy your time In novels or in knitting, Whose highest skill is but to play, Sing, dance or French to clack well, Reflect on the example, pray, Of excellent Miss Blackwell. ...*...*...*...* "For Doctrix Blackwell, that's the way To dub in rightful gender-- In her profession, ever may Prosperity attend her. Punch a gold-headed parasol Suggests for presentation To one so well deserving all Esteem and Admiration." [213] Op. cit., p. 241. [214] For an interesting account of the long campaign for the admission of women to medical schools and practice, see _Medical Women--A Thesis and a History_, by Dr. Sophia Jex-Blake, Edinburgh, 1886.