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-L'autocarro schermografico all'Arco della Pace di Milano (1953/1957) (24) Figure 1 -The X-ray wagon of the Clinica del Lavoro in Milan (1953/1957)
Source publication
Since the end of the 19th century, X-rays have been used to detect lung diseases. In Italy, 207,096 miniature chest radiographs were taken from 1941 to 1948. Traditional radiographs gave better results, but miniature chest radiographs were useful for screening. Indeed, the development of mobile miniature chest radiography units resulted in an impro...
Citations
... The medical and technical staff of the Clinica del Lavoro could collect samples and radio- logical investigations on the workers directly in the workplace, also thanks to the presence of laboratory and radiology mobile units. 95 The glorious 20 period of industrial hygiene and toxicology in Milan reached its peak in 1969, when Zurlo founded the Associazione Italiana Degli Igienisti Industriali (AIDII), the first Italian association for industrial hygienists. 10 The crisis and the new development In July 1970, the Clinica del Lavoro was dismayed by the fact that Gianmarco Cavagna suddenly died dur- ing an experiment on the health effects of dibromotetrafluoroethane, a new chemical product developed by Montecanini for fire suppression sys- tems. ...
In 1910, the founder of the Clinica del Lavoro of Milan, Luigi Devoto established a chemistry laboratory in the new institute, sustaining its importance in the study of occupational diseases. In 1948, the new director of the Clinica, Enrico C. Vigliani established the first laboratory of industrial hygiene in Italy, in the years of the economic boom. In 1960s, this laboratory, directed by Nicola Zurlo, significantly contributed to the research in the field. In 1980s and 1990s, the laboratory of the Clinica started to explore the field of environmental toxicology, studying the effects of benzene and other traffic pollutants on the general population. The analysis of history of the Clinica del Lavoro of Milan may represent a valuable tool for studying the origin and the development of industrial hygiene, occupational and environmental toxicology in the twentieth century.
BACKGROUND
In the 1950s, occupational medicine and occupational psychology found a common field of action in the Clinica del Lavoro in Milan. OBJECTIVES This study aims to analyze and document how this encounter took place and, in particular, the contribution of the Clinica del Lavoro to the development of occupational psychology in Italy.
METHODS
Historical sources of that period were investigated.
RESULTS
Before the 1950s, experimental psychology was only taught at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. The first professor of clinical psychology in the School of Medicine at the State University of Milan, was Marcello Cesa-Bianchi (1926-2018). He collaborated with the graphic, textile and pharmaceutical industries for the personnel training and management, and carried out important research in occupational psychology on behalf of the European Coal and Steel Community. The Chair of Clinical Psychology was initially located in the Clinica del Lavoro and the activity of the team of Cesa-Bianchi was oriented towards the elaboration of professional profiles and job analysis. In those years Cesa-Bianchi also conducted pioneering research in the field of psycho-gerontology.
CONCLUSIONS
The historical experience that integrated psychology and occupational medicine in the scientific context of Milan contains a series of values, useful to today's reflection and practice. Our work also undelines the importance of preserving historical documents: only a better knowledge of history can guarantee a better destiny.
