Regina Dal Cin (4 April 1819 – 15 August 1897) was an Italian osteopath, who practiced the recomposition of femoral dislocations.[1] [2] She is considered to be an expert in the reconstruction of the congenital and antiquated dislocations of the femur.[3]
Born as Regina Marchesini on 4 April 1819 in San Vendemiano, in the province of Treviso, northern Italy, Regina Dal Cin was the daughter of Lorenzo Marchesini and his wife Adriana Zandonella, a skilled "bone-dresser". Regina never went to school and devoted much of her time to improving her bone-setting techniques, learned from her mother.[3]
At the age of 9, she started her career as a bone-setter by replacing her mother, who had broken her leg in a buggy accident.[4] At the invitation, she visited Venice, Vienna and Turin where she reconstructed the dislocated femurs, and treated even more serious cases at the local civic hospitals. Some of her bone-setting practices were witnessed by the illustrious surgeons at the time.[5]
She faced four trials on the ground of not having the legal authorization to practice bone-setting, but she emerged victorious.[3]
At the age of 18, she married Lorenzo Dal Cin. She was widowed early with a daughter.[3]
A Street in front of Palazzo Regina Dal Cin and a primary school were named after her by the municipality of Cappella Maggiore.[3]
She died on 15 August 1897 in Cappella Maggiore.