1902-1906 Milan
Origin and preparation of the 1st International Congress on Occupational Diseases
During the 7th Italian Congress of Hydrology (April 13, 1902) the President, Malachia De Cristoforis, launches the idea of an International Congress on Occupational Diseases to be held within the Milan World Exhibition, scheduled in 1904, to celebrate the completion of the Simplon tunnel. At that time Milan is the biggest Italian industrial town. In 1901 the journal “Il Lavoro” directed by Prof. Luigi Devoto is founded and in 1902 Milan Municipality approves the project of setting up a “Clinica del Lavoro”.
For the preparation of the Congress on Occupational Diseases, an Executive Committee is established including Prof. Luigi Devoto as Secretary General, the industrialist cav. Luigi Bertarelli as Treasurer and Drs. G. Lanzillotti, L. Secchi and L. Viganò as secretaries (the two latter were later replaced by Drs. L. Veratti e L. Carozzi). The Milan Municipality allocates an office for the Secretariat in Via Filodrammatica N°16, and the Committee, that holds its first meeting on May 3, 1902, starts at once an intense promotional and organizational campaign.
Preparation of the first congress
Organizing the 1st International Congress proves to be much more arduous and complex than expected: originally scheduled in 1904, owing to the prolongation of Simplon tunnel works and consequent postponement of the World Exhibition, it is delayed to 1906.
Congress organizers in order to illustrate goals and organize events, send out several circular letters, all signed by De Cristoforis, not only to physicians but also to engineers, chemists, industrialists and factory directors as well as to the mayors of the most important Italian towns to increase attendance by health officers.
The first meetings of the Milan Congress Executive Committee
The journal “Il Lavoro”, under the column Sundries reports the minutes of one of the first meetings of the Executive Committee: “Congress for Occupational Diseases”. In 1902, under the chairmanship of hon. De Cristoforis, physicians, chemists and engineers from industrial establishments, gathered at the “Società del Giardino” in Milan to discuss about the Congress to be held in Milan on Occupational Diseases. Among others, Prof. Koerner, Dr. Ellero, Dr. Bertarelli, Prof. Devoto, Dr. Eng. Pontiggia, Prof. Magatti, Dr. Miani, Dr. Meyer. Prof. Mangiagalli can not attend being ill. The discussion deals with the appropriateness to hold the Congress and the participants unanimously recognize that it would be an honour for Milan, that is going to celebrate in 1904 the Simplon tunnel opening with a great labour day, to acknowledge the workers who often find in work a cause for illness. After Congress proposal approval, it is thought to hold, at the same time as the Congress, an Exhibition showing what health and industrial techniques had devised to protect workers from occupational poisons. At the end of the meeting, the participants appoint a commission to work out a detailed program for submission to the general committee to be soon established: Commission for study of occupational diseases. Commission, appointed by the Minister of Agriculture including Profs. Mangiagalli, Devoto, Celli, Sanarelli and “comm.” Magaldi, meets in Rome to continue studies on occupational diseases.
Postponement of Congress
In February 1905, the Exhibition being delayed on account of prolongation of Simplon tunnel works, circular letter n. 3, announces that in spring 1906, on the occasion of the Exhibition, the First International Congress on Occupational Diseases will be held in Milan, where physicians, engineers, industrial chemists, factory directors and all those concerned with work issues are welcome.
01/06/1905 Milan - Rules of the International Congress on Occupational Diseases
The Executive Committee issues the rules of the First International Congress. The journal "Il Lavoro", directed by Luigi Devoto, reports that the International Congress Organizing Committee has declared the journal the official organ of the Congress and then Congress rules and approved contributions are reported.
Rules of the International Congress on Occupational Diseases and proposed topics
The congress rules fix a separation of contributions: a series of paper on topics selected by the Organizing Committee and a series of contributions on topics proposed by participants.
When looking through the Congress Proceedings, it is apparent that the topics proposed at the beginning by the Organizing Committee have greatly enriched during the Congress itself.
Finally the rules, as usual, provide special facilities granted for joint visits to the Exhibition and then a social program.
09-14/06/1906 Milan - 1st International Congress on Occupational Diseases (official language is French)
The First International Congress on Occupational Diseases is held in Milan from 9 to 14 June 1906. It is attended by 285 participants (of whom only 20 are foreigners) and 32 representatives from local bodies. 38 speakers are Italian and 10 foreigners; in all, 48 contributions are presented in the different sessions and 18 unread contributions will be published in the proceedings.
Participation in Milan Congress in 1906
List of participants
List of foreign participants
List of adhering municipalities
13/09/1906 Milan - Establishing of the “Commission Internationale Permanente pour l’Étude des Maladies du Travail”
At the end of the works of the 1st Congress the International Permanent Commission on Occupational Health is founded with the following assignments: 1) involving the representatives from the countries attending the 1st Congress; 2) choosing the venue of the 2nd International Congress on Occupational Diseases to be held in 1908, taking appropriate contacts with different states; 3) keeping in touch with local Committees in charge with the 2nd Congress; 4) proposing to local Committees general topics on major issues and accepting the proposals from everywhere to forward them to local Committees. Malachia De Cristoforis is appointed President, Luigi Devoto and Gaetano Pieraccini Vice-presidents and Luigi Carozzi secretary.
Structure of ICOH
The first organizational core of ICOH is established with the name “Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Étude des Maladies du Travail”