Bernardino Ramazzini

Bernardino Ramazzini was an Italian physician, born in Carpi on 4 October 1633 and dying in Padua on 5 November 1714, who is considered a founder of occupational medicine. His book De Morbis Artificum Diatriba, published in 1700, outlined the health hazards of chemicals, dust, metals, repetitive or violent motions and odd postures that workers meet in more than fifty occupations, and he urged physicians to add the question of a patient's occupation to those Hippocrates recommended. He studied medicine at the University of Parma, practised in Viterbo, served as court physician to Duke Francis II from 1671, held the chair of theory of medicine at the University of Modena from 1682, and was professor of medicine at the University of Padua from 1700 until his death. Along with Francesco Torti he was an early supporter of cinchona bark in the treatment of malaria.