Bernardino Ramazzini
Encyclopedia
Bernardino Ramazzini was an Italian
physician.(Italian pronunciation: ['bernardino ramat'tsini])
Ramazzini was an early proponent of the use of cinchona
bark (from which quinine
is derived) in the treatment of Malaria
. His most important contribution to medicine was his book on occupational diseases, De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (Diseases of Workers).
He proposed that physicians should extend the list of questions that Hippocrates recommended they ask their patients by adding, "What is your occupation?".
He is often called "the father of occupational medicine"
, Ramazzini was one of the first to support the use of the quinine-rich bark cinchona
. Many falsely claimed that quinine was toxic and ineffective, but Ramazzini recognized its importance. He is quoted, "It [quinine] did for medicine what gun powder did for war."
at a higher rate than married women because they did not engage in sexual intercourse
, and the "unnatural" lack of sexual activity caused instability of the breast tissues that sometimes developed into breast cancer.
He studied medicine at the University of Parma
, where his interest in occupational diseases began.
He was appointed to the chair of theory of medicine at University of Modena in 1682.
He served as professor of medicine at the University of Padua
from 1700 until his death.
The first edition of De Morbis was published in 1700 in Modena, the second in 1713 in Padua.
He died in Padua
in 1714.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
physician.(Italian pronunciation: ['bernardino ramat'tsini])
Ramazzini was an early proponent of the use of cinchona
Cinchona
Cinchona or Quina is a genus of about 38 species in the family Rubiaceae, native to tropical South America. They are large shrubs or small trees growing 5–15 metres in height with evergreen foliage. The leaves are opposite, rounded to lanceolate and 10–40 cm long. The flowers are white, pink...
bark (from which quinine
Quinine
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
is derived) in the treatment of Malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. His most important contribution to medicine was his book on occupational diseases, De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (Diseases of Workers).
Occupational Medicine
His book on occupational diseases, De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (Diseases of Workers) outlined the health hazards of chemicals, dust, metals, repetitive or violent motions, odd postures, and other disease-causative agents encountered by workers in 52 occupations. This was one of the founding and seminal works of occupational medicine and played a substantial role in its development.He proposed that physicians should extend the list of questions that Hippocrates recommended they ask their patients by adding, "What is your occupation?".
He is often called "the father of occupational medicine"
Malaria
In regards to malariaMalaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, Ramazzini was one of the first to support the use of the quinine-rich bark cinchona
Cinchona
Cinchona or Quina is a genus of about 38 species in the family Rubiaceae, native to tropical South America. They are large shrubs or small trees growing 5–15 metres in height with evergreen foliage. The leaves are opposite, rounded to lanceolate and 10–40 cm long. The flowers are white, pink...
. Many falsely claimed that quinine was toxic and ineffective, but Ramazzini recognized its importance. He is quoted, "It [quinine] did for medicine what gun powder did for war."
Cancer
In 1713, Bernardino Ramazzini said that nuns developed breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
at a higher rate than married women because they did not engage in sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
, and the "unnatural" lack of sexual activity caused instability of the breast tissues that sometimes developed into breast cancer.
Life
He was born in Carpi in 1633.He studied medicine at the University of Parma
University of Parma
The University of Parma is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in the 11th century. It is organised in twelve faculties. The University of Parma has currently about 30,000 students.-History:...
, where his interest in occupational diseases began.
He was appointed to the chair of theory of medicine at University of Modena in 1682.
He served as professor of medicine at the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
from 1700 until his death.
The first edition of De Morbis was published in 1700 in Modena, the second in 1713 in Padua.
He died in Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
in 1714.
External links
- Ramazzini Collegium The Collegium supplies information on risks and prevention of injury and disease attributable to the workplace and the environment.
- Some places and memories related to Ramazzini.
- http://sites.google.com/site/giulianofrancomail/bernardino-ramazzini-e-la-medicina-del-lavoro-1. Presentations and publications on Ramazzini's famed work "De Morbis Artificum Diatriba"