The malariology centenary

The year 1898 was one of the most significant years in the history of malariology. One hundred years later scientists gathered at the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Rome, to commemorate the Malariology Centenary. This paper provides a short overview of some of the key developments and discoveries in malaria research which took place at the end of the 19th century. The major contributions of Alphonse Laveran, Patrick Manson, Ronald Ross, Battista Grassi and a number of scientists of the Italian School of Malariology to the understanding of the transmission of malaria by Anopheles mosquitoes are described. This paper also highlights the importance of an historical perspective in furthering our understanding of the 'Malaria Challenge after One Hundred Years of Malariology'.     

The malariology centenary (1898-1998). 1898

This editorial note presents the journal initiative to celebrate the Malariology Centenary. It includes the reprint of the first annual report of the Society for Malaria Studies (founded in 1898), presented by Angelo Celli on December 3rd, 1898, to the first meeting of the Society and published in the Journal of the Royal Italian Society of Hygiene (volume 20, issue 12, 31st December 1898). The text is followed by explanatory footnotes and relevant references. An exhaustive historical essai, including the english version of the Celli's report, is scheduled to appear as supplement to volume 41, and the same volume will host the contributions issued from the international conference. "The malaria challenge after one hundred years of malariology", held in Roma at the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei on November 16-19, 1998.     

1998: The centenary of the discovery of the Golgi apparatus

1998 is the year of the centenary of the discovery of the Golgi apparatus. This event is considered in its historical context: the first cell theory of 1838–1839, the first polemics in cytology and the research on the cell organelles at the turn of the century. The first approaches to clarify the physiological significance of the apparatus is traced from Golgi (1909) to Bowen (1929).     

The centenary pluviometer: A pioneer dendrochronological study in South America

In 1931, Krebs and Fischer, published El pluviómetro secular (The centenary pluviometer) an analysis of tree rings of Prosopis caldenia Burkart (caldén) in the central Argentinean Pampas which, according to the date, may be considered as one of the first dendrochronological studies in South America.     

From physiological theory to psychological facts (on the centenary of I. P. Pavlov's speech in Madrid)

Pavlovian theory of conditioned reflexes and Ukhtomsky's theory of dominanta are considered as the most important biological concepts of the XX century. They have laid the foundation of the modern views of the adaptive and active character of the nervous activity underlying the integral behavior in the environment. Approach to a burning problem of neurophysiological mechanisms of goaldirected behavior is impossible without a comprehensive study of works of both these schools. They have formed not only the methodological basis of modern investigations but opened a new avenue of attack.