On the means of lengthening, in the lower limbs, the muscles and tissues which are shortened through deformity. 1904.

Alessandro Codivilla (1861-19 12) (Fig. I ) was born and raised in Bologna, the son of a pawn broker. He was forced to tutor other students to finance his education. On graduation from the medical school in Bologna, he began his training in surgery, moving from appointment to appointment. In 1899, at the age of 38 years, he gave up the practice of general surgery for the specialty of orthopaedics and was appointed director of the Rizzoli Institute of Bologna. As might be expected, this appointment met with serious opposition, which Codivilla overcame by demonstrating his remarkable ability. Two years later, Codivilla was given the additional post of director of the Institute for Ricketts in Milan. The next 12 years were filled with activity. During this time, Codivilla made important contributions to the treatment of patients suffering from residuals of poliomyelitis by improving methods of tendon transplantation. He also concerned himself with the problems of cerebral palsy, congenital dislocations of the hip, clubfeet, and scoliosis. In each area, he made significant improvements. It was Codivilla who was responsible for making the Rizzoli Institute world famous. Codivilla was a quiet man, not given to self-promotion. His students Vittorio Putti, Carlos E. Ottolenghi, and Francesco Delitala spread his fame throughout the orthopaedic world. Codivilla died in 19 12 of chronic gastrointestinal disease, which had plagued him for many years. In 1902, Codivilla introduced a method of skeletal traction that he used primarily in the treatment of old deformities of the leg. This involved him in a bitter controversy over priority with Steinmann, whose method of skeletal traction was used primarily in the treatment of fresh fractures. His description of the use of this method is our Classic article.