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Electrical Discoveries Open New Horizons in Medicine

1986; Elsevier BV; Volume: 61; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0025-6196(12)61954-5

1942-5546

Marc A. Shampo, Robert A. Kyle,

Neurology and Historical Studies

The electrical discoveries of Italian physicist Allesandro Volta opened new horizons for physical laws and thus provided medicine with fresh perspectives in therapeutics and new investigative possibilities in physiology and pathology. Volta was born on Feb. 18, 1745, in Como, Lombardy. His most famous contribution to science (in 1800) was the voltaic pile, a series of zinc and copper plates separated by flannel disks soaked in brine. This invention was the first source of constant-current electricity—the earliest electric battery. Using this device, Volta and other scientists decomposed water by electrolysis, electroplated precious metals, and produced the electromagnet. Volta invented the electrophorus, a device used to generate static electricity. It consisted of one metal plate covered with ebonite and a second metal plate with an insulated handle. The electrophorus replaced the Leyden jar. Volta also invented the electroscope and discovered and isolated methane (in 1778). His creation of the eudiometer (an instrument used in testing the purity of air) led to one of the most important discoveries of the 18th century, the composition of water. Two other inventions were the electric pistol (inflammable air pistol), which was filled with hydrogen and either air or oxygen and was fired by a portable electrophorus, and a lamp that burned inflammable air. In 1774, Volta was appointed professor of physics at Como, and from 1779 to 1804, he was professor of natural philosophy at Pavia. In 1815, he was appointed director of the philosophy faculty at the University of Padua. Volta died in Como on Mar. 5, 1827. A stamp bearing his portrait was issued by San Marino in 1983, as part of a set of six stamps honoring pioneers of science. The volt, an electrical unit, was named in his honor.