[Vincenzo Cuomo, health officer and general practitioner on the Isle of Capri].

We provide a broad review of the scientific output of Vincenzo Cuomo, general practitioner and health officer on the Isle of Capri. As well as his work as a doctor he was a close observer of the environment and in particular of the island's splendid climate and its benefits not only for the local population in general but also for visitors from northern Europe's colder climes. These mainly included tuberculosis sufferers in search of the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean climate, as well as those suffering from asthma and chronic bronchitis. Vincenzo Cuomo understood the beneficial effects of the island's climate and campaigned successfully to have the island formally recognized as a major health resort. To add scientific rigour to his observations, he installed a fully operational meteorological station at the top of his villa, supplying data as part of Italy's network of meteorological and climatological stations over some 50 years. Given his contribution to science and medicine, we believe it appropriate to consider Vincenzo Cuomo a precursor of modern clinical climatology.