{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T00:44:17Z","timestamp":1777855457408,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,9]],"date-time":"2025-01-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1736380800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Med Biogr"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Marcello Malpighi, renowned as the founder of microscopic anatomy, faced many challenges throughout his life. Among these was his frail health, which deteriorated in his early 40s when he developed kidney stones. He struggled with arthritic pain and heart palpitations, which, along with his renal condition, gradually became worse as he got older. His clinical history and autopsy findings also suggest he may have suffered from hypertension, a disease unknown in the seventeenth century. Toward the end, his declining health was complicated by cardiovascular failure. After he died from a stroke, his mortal remains lay unburied for months due to a dispute over the ownership of the burial place. They were finally entombed but relocated multiple times over the next three centuries. An examination of the bones currently housed in his memorial, conducted on the tercentenary of his birth and critically revisited years later, raised doubts about their authenticity. In this paper, I review the causes of Malpighi's poor health and death and delve into the intriguing story of his mortal remains.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/09677720241307612","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,9]],"date-time":"2025-01-09T08:16:49Z","timestamp":1736410609000},"page":"46-58","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Marcello Malpighi's failing health, death, and the remarkable story of his mortal remains"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"34","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3077-224X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roberto F","family":"Nicosia","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_3_2_2","first-page":"4","volume-title":"Notizie edite ed inedite della vita e delle opere di Marcello Malpighi e di Lorenzo Bellini","author":"Atti G.","year":"1847","unstructured":"Atti G. Notizie edite ed inedite della vita e delle opere di Marcello Malpighi e di Lorenzo Bellini. Bologna: Tipografia Governativa Alla Volpe, 1847, pp. 4\u2013 407."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_3_2","first-page":"8","volume-title":"Marcello Malpighi and the evolution of embryology","author":"Adelmann HB.","year":"1966","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. Marcello Malpighi and the evolution of embryology. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1966, Vol. I, pp. 8\u2013 14 and 120\u2013 668."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_4_2","first-page":"63","volume-title":"All\u2019Origine della biologia moderna. La vita di un testimone e protagonista: Marcello Malpighi nell\u2019Universita\u2019 di Bologna","author":"Minelli G.","year":"1987","unstructured":"Minelli G. All\u2019Origine della biologia moderna. La vita di un testimone e protagonista: Marcello Malpighi nell\u2019Universita\u2019 di Bologna. Milano: Editoriale Jaka Book spa, 1987, pp. 63\u2013 88."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_5_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5962\/bhl.title.11441"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_6_2","volume-title":"Nozze Boschi-Tomba (ms. 2085\/VI, Biblioteca Universitaria di Bologna)","author":"Malpighi M.","unstructured":"Malpighi M. Memorie di Me Marcello Malpighi ai miei posteri fatte in villa l\u2019anno 1689. In: Zanichelli C (ed) Nozze Boschi-Tomba (ms. 2085\/VI, Biblioteca Universitaria di Bologna). Bologna: Tipografia della Ditta Nicola Zanichelli, 1902, pp.7\u201316."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_7_2","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","year":"1975","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1975, Vol. I-V."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_8_2","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi Cornell University Press Vol. I pp. 36\u2013 37 (letter 17 Borelli to Malpighi) 120\u2013122 (letter 60 Borelli to Malpighi) 122\u2013124 (letter 61 Borelli to Malpighi)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_9_2","unstructured":"Giovanni Alfonso Borelli born in Naples studied mathematics at the Sapienza University Rome and was professor of mathematics in Messina from 1635 to 1656. In 1656 he moved to Pisa the same year as Malpighi. He studied astronomy and anatomy and was among the founders of the Accademia del Cimento. Borelli is recognized as the father of biomechanics for his work on muscle function and the mechanics of animal locomotion."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_10_2","first-page":"163","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. I, pp. 163\u2013 164 (letter 79, Borelli to Malpighi)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_11_2","first-page":"409","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. I, pp. 409\u2013 410 (letter 201, Malpighi to [Ferrarini])."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_12_2","unstructured":"Antonio Ferrarini physician in the service of Alfonso IV Duke of Modena was protomedico (chief physician) of the duke\u2019s son Francesco II. He periodically consulted with Malpighi on medical matters until his death in 1689."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_13_2","unstructured":"Villa is one of the watering places comprising the Bagni di Lucca in Tuscany."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_14_2","first-page":"620","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. II, pp. 620\u2013 621 (letter 284, Malpighi to Oldenburg)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_15_2","unstructured":"Henry Oldenburg German theologian diplomat and natural philosopher was the first secretary of the Royal Society and editor and founder of Philosophical Transactions."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_16_2","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi Cornell University Press Vol. II pp. 734\u2013 735 (letter 353 Caspar Bartholin to Malpighi)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_17_2","unstructured":"Caspar Bartholin the Younger Danish Anatomist who first described the vaginal glands named after him."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_18_2","first-page":"877","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. II, pp. 877\u2013 878 (letter 410, Malpighi to [Ferrarini])."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_19_2","first-page":"892","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. II, pp. 892\u2013 893 (letter 418, Malpighi to [Ferrarini]), pp.903\u2013904 (Letter 424, Malpighi to [Ferrarini])."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_20_2","first-page":"963","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. III, pp. 963\u2013 964 (letter 458, Malpighi to Redi)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_21_2","unstructured":"Francesco Redi born in Arezzo studied medicine and philosophy in Pisa. He was a linguist poet and natural philosopher best known for his studies refuting spontaneous generation. He was a member of the Accademia della Crusca and Accademia del Cimento."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_22_2","first-page":"1036","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. III, pp. 1036\u2013 1037 (letter 507, Malpighi to Girolamo Cardinal Gastaldi?)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_23_2","unstructured":"Girolamo Cardinal Castaldi papal legate in Bologna named by Pope Alexander VII general health commissioner during the plague of 1656\u20131657. Castaldi had cordial relations with Malpighi until his death in 1685."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_24_2","first-page":"1051","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. III, pp. 1051\u2013 1052 (letter 517, Malpighi to [Ferrarini])."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_25_2","first-page":"1256","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. III, pp. 1256\u2013 1257 (letter 625, Anastasio to Malpighi)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_26_2","first-page":"1272","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. III, pp. 1272\u2013 1273 (letter 634, Malpighi to Maseri)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_27_2","first-page":"1397","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. III, p. 1397 (letter 709, Malpighi to [Ferrarini])."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_28_2","first-page":"1477","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. IV, pp. 1477\u2013 1481 (Letter 751, Malpighi to Borghese)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_29_2","first-page":"1498","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. IV, pp. 1498\u2013 1500 (letter 762, Malpighi to [Ferrarini])."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_30_2","first-page":"1485","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. IV, pp. 1485\u2013 1486 (letter 756, Malpighi to Borghese)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_31_2","unstructured":"Prince Marcantonio III Borghese son of Giovanni Battista Borghese (prince of Sulmona and of Rossano Duke of Palombra) and great-grandson of Marcantonio II nephew of Pope Paul V. He was interested in science and became a member of the Royal Society of London. In 1721 he was named viceroy of Naples by Emperor Charles VI."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_32_2","first-page":"1494","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. IV, pp. 1494\u2013 1496 (Letter 760, Malpighi to Bellini)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_33_2","unstructured":"Lorenzo Bellini born in Florence graduated in medicine and philosophy from the University of Pisa. A prot\u00e9g\u00e9 of Borelli he became a professor of theoretical medicine and chair of anatomy at Pisa. At 19 years old Bellini described the tubular structure of the kidney in his work Exercitatio anatomica de structura et usu renum."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_34_2","first-page":"1561","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. IV, pp. 1561\u2013 1563 (letter 800, Malpighi to Agostino Marsili)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_35_2","unstructured":"Count Agostino Marsili served as Bolognese senator and gonfaloniere. Because of his reportedly violent behaviour he was banned more than once from Bologna but always managed to be pardoned. He continued serving in the Bologna Senate until 1701."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_36_2","first-page":"1605","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. IV, pp. 1605\u2013 1606 (letter 828, Malpighi to Borghese)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_37_2","first-page":"1925","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. V, pp. 1925\u2013 1926 (letter 1033, Malpighi to unidentified correspondent)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_38_2","first-page":"1931","volume-title":"The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi","author":"Adelmann HB.","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi, Cornell University Press, Vol. V, pp. 1931\u2013 1932 (letter 1037, Malpighi to unidentified correspondent)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_39_2","unstructured":"Adelmann HB. The correspondence of Marcello Malpighi Cornell University Press Vol. V pp. 1936\u2013 1937 (letter 1041 Malpighi to unidentified correspondent)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_40_2","first-page":"405","volume-title":"Notizie edite ed inedite della vita e delle opere di Marcello Malpighi e di Lorenzo Bellini","author":"Atti G.","unstructured":"Atti G. Notizie edite ed inedite della vita e delle opere di Marcello Malpighi e di Lorenzo Bellini. Bologna: Tipografia Governativa Alla Volpe, 1847, p. 405."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_41_2","first-page":"152","volume-title":"Compendio storico della Scuola Anatomica di Bologna","author":"Medici M.","year":"1857","unstructured":"Medici M. Relatio anatomico-physica postremae aegritudinis, interitus, et extispicii clarissimi viri Marcelli Malpighii. Jo. Maria Lancisi in Romano Lyceo Anatomes Professor. In: Compendio storico della Scuola Anatomica di Bologna. Tip. Governativa della Volpe e del Sassi, 1857, pp. 152\u2013 155."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_42_2","unstructured":"Giorgio Baglivi born in Ragusa (now Dubrovnik) studied medicine in Salerno met Malpighi in Bologna probably in 1689 and became his friend. He moved to Rome in 1692 where he served as Malpighi\u2019s assistant. He attended Malpighi in his last illness and performed his autopsy."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_43_2","unstructured":"Giovanni Maria Lancisi born in Rome studied medicine at La Sapienza university where he held the chair of anatomy. Lancisi served as archiater chief physician to popes Innocent XI Innocent XII and Clement XI. He met Malpighi in Rome establishing a cordial relationship with him."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_44_2","unstructured":"Cupping therapy was used to forcefully draw blood out via skin incisions. Marco Cornacchini\u2019s powder was a mixture of scammony diaphoretic antimony and cream of tartar."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_45_2","unstructured":"Lancisi named Alessio Spella as the dissector whereas Baglivi wrote that he performed Malpighi\u2019s autopsy himself. Spella not mentioned in Baglivi\u2019s report probably served as his assistant during the dissection."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_46_2","first-page":"115","volume-title":"De Praxi Medica. Libri Duo. Dissertationes Novae","author":"Baglivi G","year":"1700","unstructured":"Baglivi G. Historia Morbi et Sectio Cadaveris Marcelli Malpighii Archiatri Pontificii. In: De Praxi Medica. Libri Duo. Dissertationes Novae. Lugduni Batavorum, Apud Fredericum Haringium, 1700, pp. 115\u2013 117."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_47_2","volume-title":"Diagnostic Pathology: Kidney Diseases","author":"Colvin RB","year":"2016","unstructured":"Colvin RB, Chang A. Diagnostic Pathology: Kidney Diseases. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier, 2016, Diseases of the Collecting System, pp. 714\u2013717 (Uric Acid Nephropathy\/Gout). pp. 918\u2013923 (Obstructive Uropathy), pp. 924\u2013931 (Nephrolithiasis).","edition":"2"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_48_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/ajprenal.00503.2014"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_49_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1161\/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07901"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_50_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11906-009-0084-8"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_51_2","first-page":"229","volume-title":"Celebrazioni Malpighiane: discorsi e scritti. L'Archiginnasio, Bollettino della Biblioteca Comunale di Bologna (numero unico)","author":"Fanti M.","year":"1965","unstructured":"Fanti M. La tomba e i resti mortali di Marcello Malpighi con nuovi documenti e una appendice sulla piu\u2019 probabile data di nascita dello Scienziato. In: Celebrazioni Malpighiane: discorsi e scritti. L'Archiginnasio, Bollettino della Biblioteca Comunale di Bologna (numero unico). Anno LX, Bologna: Azzoguidi Soc. Tipografica Editoriale, 1965, pp. 229\u2013 282. http:\/\/badigit.comune.bologna.it\/books\/bollettino\/pdf\/1965-1.pdf (accessed 24 November 2024)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_52_2","unstructured":"Prior to the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council the Gospel was read on the left side of the main altar whereas the Letters of the Apostles were read on the right side. The two corners of a catholic church were therefore labeled \u201cIn cornu Evangelii \u201c (left) and \u201cIn cornu Epistulae\u201c (right)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_53_2","unstructured":"Fanti M. La Tomba e i resti mortali di Marcello Malpighi pp.230\u2013234."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_54_2","unstructured":"Fanti M. La Tomba e i resti mortali di Marcello Malpighi pp.235\u2013238."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_55_2","unstructured":"Fanti M. La Tomba e I resti mortali di Marcello Malpighi pp.238\u2013240."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_56_2","unstructured":"Franchini F. https:\/\/www.storiaememoriadibologna.it\/archivio\/opere\/franchini-filippo (accessed 24 November 2024)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_57_2","unstructured":"Fanti M. La Tomba e i resti mortali di Marcello Malpighi pp.240-242 and pp.275-280."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_58_2","first-page":"97","volume-title":"Commemorazione popolare di Marcello Malpighi, tenuta il 23 Settembre 1928 nel Teatro di Crevalcore","author":"Franchini F","year":"1930","unstructured":"Franchini F. Commemorazione popolare di Marcello Malpighi, tenuta il 23 Settembre 1928 nel Teatro di Crevalcore. Bologna: Licinio Cappelli, 1930, pp. 97\u2013 98. https:\/\/wellcomecollection.org\/works\/vn8eb2kh (accessed 24 November 2024)."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_59_2","first-page":"95","volume-title":"La Chiesa dei Santi Gregorio e Siro in Bologna","author":"Fanti M","year":"2004","unstructured":"Fanti M. Le sepolture \u2013 la tomba di Marcello Malpighi. In: Costa (ed) La Chiesa dei Santi Gregorio e Siro in Bologna. Bologna: Studio Costa SAS, 2004, pp. 95\u2013 105."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_60_2","unstructured":"Fanti M. La Tomba e i resti mortali di Marcello Malpighi pp.245-246."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_61_2","first-page":"1","volume-title":"Celebrazioni Malpighiane Discorsi e Scritti. L\u2019Archiginnasio, Bollettino della Biblioteca Comunale di Bologna (numero unico)","author":"Sotgiu G","year":"1965","unstructured":"Sotgiu G, Busacchi V, Gentili G, et al. Celebrazioni Malpighiane Discorsi e Scritti. L\u2019Archiginnasio, Bollettino della Biblioteca Comunale di Bologna (numero unico), Anno LX, Bologna: Azzoguidi Soc. Tipografica Editoriale, 1965, pp. 1\u2013 282."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_62_2","unstructured":"Fanti M. La Tomba e i resti mortali di Marcello Malpighi pp.242-246."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_63_2","unstructured":"Fanti M. 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