Background
Vittorio Marchi was born on March 30, 1851, in Novellara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Via Università, 4, 41121 Modena MO, Italy
Vittorio Marchi studied at the University of Modena, from which he received a degree in chemistry and pharmacy in 1873. He took a further degree in medicine and surgery in 1882.
histologist neurologist physician scientist Surgeon
Vittorio Marchi was born on March 30, 1851, in Novellara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
Vittorio Marchi studied at the University of Modena, from which he received a degree in chemistry and pharmacy in 1873. He took a further degree in medicine and surgery in 1882.
By 1882 Marchi had already conducted significant research, particularly in demonstrating Golgi tendon organs, including those of the motor muscles of the eye. Soon after his second graduation Marchi became a lecturer in anatomy at the university; he simultaneously served as an anatomist and pathologist at the Reggio nell’Emilia lunatic asylum.
In 1883 a government grant allowed Marchi to continue his studies in Golgi’s own general pathology laboratory at the University of Pavia. More important than his papers during that period, however, was Marchi’s experimental work on the descending degeneration that results from entire or partial extirpation of the cerebellum. From 1885 Marchi was in Florence, where he conducted researches at the physiology laboratory of the Istituto di Studi Superiori Pratici e di Perfezionamento, then under the direction of Luciani. His work served to clarify the structure of the cerebellar pedunculi; this, in turn, led to the recognition of the efferent fibers that run from the cerebellum to the spinal cord. The tractus tectospinalis is known as “Marchi’s tract.”
Marchi’s scientific contributions were not rewarded with the university chair that he sought. He gave up research and in 1888 began to practice medicine at San Benedetto del Tronto. From 1890 until his death he was a head physician of the hospital of Iesi.
At the University of Pavia Marchi investigated the fine structure of the corpus striatum and optic thalamus by means of Golgi’s “black reaction.” By this method, never fragments are subjected to three processes - being treated with potassium bichromate, osmium chloride, and potassium bichromate, and finally silver nitrate - whereby a black precipitate that demonstrates the nerve elements is formed. Marchi refined Golgi’s method, omitting a step. By subjecting never fragments to only the potassium bichromate and osmium chloride and potassium bichromate, he was able to demonstrate recently degenerated nerve fibers. The destruction of a cell or the interruption of a never fiber is followed by the degeneration of the part of the fiber distal to the lesion; one of the concomitant results of such degeneration is the conversion of myelin to droplets of fat, and it is these fat globules (“Marchi’s globules”) that are stained black by osmium bichlorate in Marchi’s method. (Normal fiber remains unstained.)
Marchi described this staining technique in a series of reports that appeared in 1885. These included notes on lesions of the annular protuberance, on the double-crossing of the pyramidal fasciculi, and particularly the preliminary note on the descending degeneration secondary to cortical lesions. In the last of these Marchi fully expounded the significance of his method.
There is no information on whether Vittorio Marchi was ever married or had any children.