Andrea Colombo’s research while affiliated with University of Milan and other places

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 improvement in mass X-rays screening for the detection of penumoconiosis. These mobile miniature units were mounted on a bus chassis, a solution that allowed to easily reach workers. The authors analyze some models of X-ray wagon units used by the "Clinica del Lavoro" in Milan in the 1950s. From the point of view of medical museology, the preservation of these devices requires appropriate spaces.

The "Electric House" of Monza is seen as one of the early example of rationalist architecture produced in Italy. Sponsored by the Italian Edison General Company for Electricity and produced by the Group 7, it was built for the "IV International Triennial Exhibition of Decorative and Modern Industry Arts", held in Monza in 1930. It was conceived as an environment in which the designers showed their interest towards new concepts of rationalist hygiene. Special care was taken to select the environments in relation to the surrounding nature and the needs of life of the house inhabitants: new materials more comfortable, hygienic and rational were inserted. In the kitchen, for example, the architect P. Bottoni, created a space in which the housewife's work was marked by lower energy expenditure, thanks to a careful study of the actions and movements according to the principles of taylorism, here applied to domestic work.

The Authors analyse the Italian, technical series called Manuali Hoepli, devoted to promote technical knowledge in the second half of XIXth century. Johann Ulrich (Ulrico) Hoepli (1847-1935) came from Switzerland to Milan in 1870, and translated into Italian some volumes edited by Macmillan in London (from Science Primers series). During his life, he printed 2000 Manuali Hoepli. Some of them were devoted to Occupational Medicine. Five volumes are presented: Magrini's one was devoted to technical devices to prevent industrial accidents; Allevi's Manual was printed when Milan Clinica del Lavoro was preparing; Altarelli and Bortolotto's manuals show us the fascist way of social medicine.

Between the end of the fifties and the second half of the sixties the Italian car industry was one of the few in Europe to introduce technical changes for car safety. Some Italian popular magazines took part in this plan not only by an information and prevention campaign, but also by promoting experimental safety car projects. Among them Quattroruote, rivista mensile per gli automobilisti di oggi e di domani stands out.