fl. 1100s

Italian surgeon and medical writer who was probably the greatest surgeon produced by the early school of Salerno. His treatise on surgery, Practica chirurgiae, which was probably composed about 1180, was one of the most important texts composed by a member of the School of Salerno. Roger taught and practiced at Parma before 1180, and, according to some authorities, Guido Aretino, one of his pupils, compiled the Practica chirurgiae from Roger's lecture notes and manuscripts about 1170. The Practica chirurgiae was considered a classic for at least three centuries and many of the surgical texts later associated with Salerno were probably based on Roger's own manuscripts and lectures. Roger recommended end-to-end sutures, mercurial inunction for chronic skin diseases, and seaweed for goiter. His writings supported the medieval belief that "laudable pus" (suppuration or pus formation) was an essential phase of wound healing. Roland of Parma, one of Roger's pupils, edited Roger's works and published the most important version of the Practica chirurgiae about 1230. Roger of Salerno has also been known as Roger of Palermo, Roger of Parma, Rogerius Salernitanus, Ruggiero Frugardi, and Roger Frugardi.