Louis Appia (1818-98): military surgeon and member of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

From Appia's writings we compose a view on his contribution to international medical relief in warfare, to the establishment of the Red Cross and the Geneva Convention, and to surgical procedures on the battlefield. Much information comes from his work on the Battle of San Martino e Solferino in June 1859 on the subject of which he wrote seven letters. We report also on his role during the Garibaldinian Campaign in 1866 and his work in Europe as a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).