Courage and trust in research

With this issue, Medicina Historica continues its journey to bring to light medical experiences of the past that have certainly had resonance in our present. The history of some pathologies that have characterized the research of doctors in the course of history must now be re-read to add to our awareness also that of our trusting past in research and the perseverance of researchers. Such as the history of Grave’s disease, which is today described in a “bio-historical” key by the authors who present the salient moments of the evolution in the research of this disease, starting with the diagnosis in 1835 by Roberto James Graves. The article on Robert Koch, pioneer and founder of modern bacteriology enhances the methodological rigour of the past science through the story of the salient moments in his career. He is an example of methodological rigour still valid for all of us.