by Dr Arpan K Banerjee
Chairman British Society for the History of Radiology
ISHRAD Symposium 2014
Verona, Italy was the magnificient setting of the latest scientific meeting organised by ISHRAD.(International Society for the History of Radiology) This year’s theme was military radiology in keeping with the general interest in military matters generated by the worldwide commemorative events generated by the centenary of the First World War. The exact venue was the Officer’s Club adjacent to the medieval Castelvecchio an important historical landmark and medieval moated castle overlooking the river Adige in Verona. A salon in the grand setting of the Officer’s club was the venue for the exciting programme of lectures.
Lectures included Rene Van Tiggelen form Belgium on military radiology in World War 1 followed by Mario Reggio from Italy on special Italian Military equipment for WW1. Ambulances/trucks were converted into vehicles with equipment for developing films. Adrian Thomas from UK talked about Florence Stoney, the first woman military radiologist. In the afternoon Arpan K Banerjee from UK talked about John Hall Edwards the Birmingham Radiology pioneer and his involvement in the Boer War. Alfredo Buzzi from Argentina talked about Samuel Stuart Pennington and the Battle of the River Plate. The meeting concluded with a talk by Judith Amorosa from USA whose talk was titled Updating the events at the radiology department of Zhido Korhaz (Jewish Hospital ) in Budapest ,Hungary in 1944 an area which Dr Amorosa has been researching for several years.
Attendees had a chance to visit the Castelvecchio museum located in the site of the fourteenth century castle and see its famous collections of medieval paintings, sculptures and military artefacts. On Sunday a walking tour of this historic city enabled all to visit the Bra square with the remarkable 2000 year old Roman built arena (still the venue for large musical events today) as well as historical arches, palaces, churches and squares including Piazza Erbe and Piazza dei Signori with its statues of Fracastorius the famous sixteenth century Veronese physician and poet( coiner of the term syphilis in his famous work-‘ syphilidis, sive Morbi Gallici’) and Dante the famous writer from the 14th century(also probably a physician before turning to literature) who penned the third part of the Divine Comedy- ‘Paradise’ in this beautiful city. No trip to Verona would be complete without the obligatory visit to the Casa Romeo and Casa Juliet which draws in tourists by the thousands although ironically the setting of Shakespeare’s play was not a city which Shakespeare himself ever visited.
All those who attended including members of the British Society for the History of Radiology enjoyed the lectures, convivial company and delights of this ancient city and participants all thank Mario Reggio for hosting the meeting in Verona.