Ruini, Carlo

1. Dates

Born: Bologna, c. 1530

Died: Bologna, 2 Feb. 1598

Dateinfo: Birth Uncertain

Lifespan: 68

2. Father

Occupation: Aristocrat

We are told only that Ruini came from a noble family. Since he himself was a senator of Bologna, this is credible.

No information about financial status.

3. Nationality

Birth: Italian

Career: Italian

Death: Italian

4. Education

Schooling: No University

There is simply no information about his education.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Catholic

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Anatomy

He is remembered chiefly for the two-volume Anatomia del cavallo, infermite et suoi remedii (Bologna, 1598), which went through several editions during the 17th century. The first volume deals mainly with anatomy, and the second specifically with equine diseases and their cures.

7. Means of Support

Primary: Personal Means, Law

He was an aristocrat, senator, and high-ranking lawyer.

8. Patronage

Type: Eccesiastic Official

Four weeks before his death, Ruini composed the dedication of the Anatomia (which appeared that year after his death) to Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini, the nephew of Clement VIII. This is clearly dubious as patronage, but I have decided to list it.

9. Technological Involvement

Type: Agriculture

The work on veterinary medicine seems to fit best under this category.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: None

Sources

1. Dizionario enciclopedico italiano, 10, (Rome, 1959), 622.
2. Pagel, "Ruini," Biographisches Lexicon der hervorragenden Arzte aller Zeiten und Volker, 2nd ed., (Berlin-Vienna, 1932), 4, 921. Z6658.B615AE35.D516
3. H.P. Bayon, "The Authorship of Carlo Ruini's 'Anatomia del Cavallo'," Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics, 48 (1935), 138-49.
4. G.B. Ercolani, Carlo Ruini--Curiosità storiche e bibliografiche intorno alle scoperte della circolazione del sangue, (Bologna, 1873). A passionate claim that Ruini discovered the circulation of the blood.
5. There is precious little information about this man who is known only for his one book.

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University

Note: the creators of the Galileo Project and this catalogue cannot answer email on geneological questions.