Medicine received a new impulse at the end of the 15th century, and the two most important personages in it are Leonicenus and Linacre. Leonicenus was professor of medicine at Padua, Bologna, and Ferrara and noted for his knowledge of Latin as well as of medicine. He made a famous translation of the Aphorisms of Hippocrates. He was no mere translator and commentator however but a practical scientist whose most important work was the correction of the botanical errors in Pliny's Natural His tory. Leonicenus also wrote on certain clinical problems of his day, notable lues. The prob lem whether syphilis was introduced into Eu rope from America or not at the end of this century is considered by some as unsolved, but there are now many documents and traditions pointing to its European existence for centuries before, and the treatment of it by mercury had even been worked out. The technique of some of the surgeons of this century show that the old form of anaesthesia survived, and that a great many operations subsequently abandoned, to be revived at the end of the 19th century were being performed. • The greatest benefit conferred upon medi cine at this time was the printing in magnifi cent scholarly editions of some of the classics in medicine. This led to their preservation, and though many of them were Lost sight of and their significance unappreciated until the last generation, the printed editions were in many libraries waiting for modern students and ready to be reprinted. Above all, the Renaissance printers preserved for us the books of the great teachers of the later Middle Ages, of the sur geons of Salerno, of Theodoric and Bruno, of Guy de Chauliac, and of others which were cir culating in manuscript and were liable to be lost. The Italian medical schools were waking up to the study not only of Greek medicine but also of clinical medicine by observation and the value of pathology for the real meaning of disease. .Beniveini (died 1502), besides being an able surgeon wrote ethe only work on pathology which owes nothing to any one,' (Malgaigne). Medical students from many countries in Europe found their way to Italy; among them Linacre from distant England, and Copernicus, physician as well as as tronomer, from Poland, so that the tradition of going to Italy for advanced medical studies became the condition so notable in the next century.
The obligations which wealthy men felt toward their less favored brethren during this century can be readily appreciated from the careers of some of the men who, having made a fortune in trade in London, proceeded to spend it for the benefit of their fellows. Dick Whittington of the nursery tale, who became Sir Richard Whittington, Mayor of London, made most of his benefactions early in this century, but his career belongs more to the 14th and has been treated there. The typical merchant prince of the 15th century is Sir Hugh Clopton of Stratford-on-Avon, who having left his native town and made his fortune in Lon don, returned to Stratford to lavish benefactions on his townsmen. He built the beautiful stone bridge across the Avon which still stands and which was sadly needed, for the old wooden bridge was dangerous in the spring freshets and even lives had been lost. He rebuilt the Guild Chapel in the charming form that has made it the admiration of visitors to Stratford ever since and restored the almshouses meant particularly for old couples to live together during their declining years when they had passed their usefulness. Mr. Sidney Lee in
his has told of Sir Hugh's beneficence in his will. bequeathed also C. marks to be given to xx. poor maidens of good name and fame dwelling in Stratford, that is to each of them five marks apiece at their marriage; and likewise Cl. to the poor house holders in Stratford?' The custom of giving dowries to girls on their marriage so that the little household might start housekeeping with out debt for their furnishings, was a very com mon practice at the end of the Middle Ages. This period saw also the establishment of the so-called Monts de Piet& that is public offices where the poor when in need might pledge their belongings to receive them back after pay ing the loan. These foundations were made as a remedy for the evils occasioned by the usury of money lenders. The founder was Bernadine of Feltre, a Franciscan, and it came to be a common practice for rich people in their wills to leave a certain amount of money for the redemption of such pledges for the most deserving poor. The social organization of the period deserves study beside its art considera tion. DAMES J. WALSH, Author of Thirteenth the Greatest of • Centurses.) 1401. The Renaissance in Italy awakens the spirit for learn ing and the fine arts.
1403. Yunglop, son of Hong-wu. dethrone, his nephew and makes Peking the capital.of China. Frames the•Chinese code of laws. Maintains a fleet that dominates the East. and receives foreign ambassadors.
1411. Saint Andrew's University, Scotland, founded. 1413. Henry V becomes king of England.
1415. Battle of Agincourt. Henry V of England conquers Normandy. John Hus condemned by the Council of Constance and burned.
1416. Jerome of Prague burned for heresy.
1420. Hussite wars begin.
1422. Henry V of England becomes king of France. Con stantinople besieged by Aanurath. the Turkish emperor. 1429.loan of Arc raises the siege of Orleans.
1431.Joan of Arc burned at Rouen by the English.
1440. rinting, long known by the Chinese, Invented in Germany by Gutenberg.
1448. The Azores discovered by Portuguese navigators. 1450. Jack Cade insurrection in England.
1451. The English evacuate Rouen and other French towns. 1453. The Turks capture Constantinople under Mahomet and with the extinction of the Comneni and Palieologi the Eastern Empire ends.
1454. Glasgow University founded.
1455. War of Roses begins in England. The battle of Saint Albans. First book printed from movable types. 1456. Siege of Belgrade. Turks repulsed by Hunyadi. 1456-1477. Seven universities founded in Germany. 1457. Glass first manufactured in England.
1461. Louis XI of France begins to reign.
1468. Louis XI imprisoned by Charles the Bold.
1469. Machiavelli born.
1477. Aberdeen University founded.
1479. The kingdom of Spain formed by the union of Aragon and Castile.
1483. Richard III of England the usurper.
1484. The Inquisition established in Spain., 1485. Xing Ladislas of Bohemia grants religious liberty.
Henry VII 1485. Battle of Bosworth, England. Richard III slain. succeeds.
1486. Bartholomew Diaz reaches the Cape of Good Hope. 1487. The Court of Star Chamber instituted in England. 1492. Columbus rediscovers America. Granada falls and the Moors are driven out of Spain.
1494. Charles VIII invades Italy.
1497. Cabot discovers North America.