Carlo Forlanini
Encyclopedia
Carlo Forlanini was an Italian physician.
In 1870 he earned his medical degree from the University of Pavia
, where he studied as an alumnus of Borromeo College, and afterwards joined the staff of the Ospedale Maggiore in Milan
. Later he was an instructor at the universities of Turin
(from 1884) and Pavia
(1899), and in 1900 was appointed professor of clinical medicine in Pavia. Today the Carlo Forlanini Institute in Rome
is named in his honor. He was the older brother of aviation
pioneer Enrico Forlanini
(1848-1930).
Carlo Forlanini was a specialist in tuberculosis
and respiratory disorders. He realized that the difficulty in curing pulmonary tuberculosis was due to the lungs being in a constant state of expansion and reduction. However, when this action is removed, the "static lung" would be similar to other visceral organs, and from that moment a healing process could take place. In the 1880s he devised an artificial pneumothorax
for therapeutic treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. This apparatus brought air into the lung by way of a Saugmann pneumothorax needle, with a water manometer connected to the device to allow for measurement of pleural pressure and air volume.
In 1870 he earned his medical degree from the University of Pavia
University of Pavia
The University of Pavia is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. It was founded in 1361 and is organized in 9 Faculties.-History:...
, where he studied as an alumnus of Borromeo College, and afterwards joined the staff of the Ospedale Maggiore in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. Later he was an instructor at the universities of Turin
University of Turin
The University of Turin is a university in the city of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy...
(from 1884) and Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
(1899), and in 1900 was appointed professor of clinical medicine in Pavia. Today the Carlo Forlanini Institute in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
is named in his honor. He was the older brother of aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
pioneer Enrico Forlanini
Enrico Forlanini
Enrico Forlanini was an Italian engineer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer, well known for his works on helicopters, aircraft, hydrofoils and dirigibles. He was born in Milan...
(1848-1930).
Carlo Forlanini was a specialist in tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and respiratory disorders. He realized that the difficulty in curing pulmonary tuberculosis was due to the lungs being in a constant state of expansion and reduction. However, when this action is removed, the "static lung" would be similar to other visceral organs, and from that moment a healing process could take place. In the 1880s he devised an artificial pneumothorax
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is a collection of air or gas in the pleural cavity of the chest between the lung and the chest wall. It may occur spontaneously in people without chronic lung conditions as well as in those with lung disease , and many pneumothoraces occur after physical trauma to the chest, blast...
for therapeutic treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. This apparatus brought air into the lung by way of a Saugmann pneumothorax needle, with a water manometer connected to the device to allow for measurement of pleural pressure and air volume.