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Telemedicine — medicine at a distance (Greek tele: afar, far-off) — has a distinguished history. A recent review examines telemedicine as practiced by renowned seventeenth-century physician and researcher Marcello Malpighi (1628–1694), author of anatomical and histological studies. Most relevant to dermatology was his discovery of the epidermal malpighian layer. A politically well-connected academic in Italy, Malpighi had powerful political and ecclesiastical patrons, and eventually served as physician to Pope Innocent XII.
Malpighi practiced telemedicine via consulti — written responses to individuals or their physicians who sent descriptions of symptoms, signs, constitution, and habits, as well as detailed h…