Veratti, Emilio

Born in Varese in 1872, Veratti was, for four of the five years of the Medical program at Pavia University, a student intern at Golgi’s General Pathology Institute.

He wished to complete his doctorate with top grades and honours, yet he feared being vetoed during his final dissertation by pathologist Giacomo Sangalli (fierce and unpredictable opponent of Golgi’s and of all his students). In 1895 he therefore transferred to the University of Bologna, working at the Anatomy laboratory directed by Romeo Fusari, in his time a student of Golgi’s, as well. In Bologna, he gained his doctorate with honours in 1896 and was awarded the “Vittorio Emanuele II” prize for best dissertation. At the end of the same year, he came back to Pavia as assistant at the General Pathology Institute.

Veratti’s most important scientific contribution was finding and highlighting a fine reticulum in muscle cells, which displayed a typical and regular placement in various animal species. The reticulum appeared to form during development and its functions were later assimilated to those of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Veratti also carried out significant research in many fields of Medicine, dealing with Oncology, Microbiology and hygiene. He was director of the General Pathology Institute from 1829 to 1942. He died in Varese in 1967.