who supplied them, "stationarii." It is not quite clear whether the confectionarii and the stationarii were the same persons. Probably they were sometimes, but not necessarily always. Apparently the stationarii were generally the drug importers and dealers, and the confectionarii were the compounders. Both had to be licensed by the Medical School of Salerno; and among the duties imposed upon the physician, one was to inform the authorities if he came to discover that any "confectionarius" had falsified medicines. Longfellow alludes to this provision in the "Golden Legend"—
To report if any confectionarius
Mingles his drugs with matters various.
The physician was strictly forbidden to enter into any arrangement with a druggist whereby he would derive any profit by the sale of medicaments, and he was not permitted himself to conduct a pharmacy. The "confectioners" were required to take an oath to prepare all medicines according to the Antidotary of the Salernian School. Their profits were limited and graduated, less being allowed on those of frequent consumption than on those which they had to keep for more than a year. Pharmacies were only allowed in the principal cities, and in each such city two notable master apothecaries were appointed to supervise them. The "confectioners" had to make their syrups and electuaries and other compounds in the presence of these two inspectors, and if they were detected in any attempt at fraud their property was subject to confiscation. If one of the inspectors was found to have been a party to the fraud his punishment was death.
"It is well known," says Beckmann in "Ancient Inventions,"
"that almost all political institutions on this side the Alps, and
