The Hidden Structure: A Scientific Biography of Camillo Golgi

Camillo Golgi (1843-1926) is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern neuroscience. In 1873, he discovered the black reaction -- a histological stain which proved to be a revolutionary method for studying the structure of the nervous system. To this day, the Golgi stain is widely used. And for every student of medicine or biology, Golgi's name is synonymous with one of the basic structures in the cell: Golgi Apparatus. He discovered the apparatus in 1898 and, as a result, is among the most widely cited biologist in scientific literature. But this was only one of Golgi's many contributions to scientific research. He also devised a system for the classification of neurons on the basis of axonal distribution, identified a type of cell in the cerebellum, and described the malarial cycle in the human. His discoveries were rich with therapeutic implications, and his remarkable achievements earned him a Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1906. Most books of biology or medicine point out that Golgi is one of the giants of 19th Century scientific endeavor, but he continues to remain a relatively unknown figure in the history of neuroscience and cell biology. This long-awaited biography, in a new translation from the Italian, is a fascinating analysis of Golgi's experiments, ideas, and personal life. It is welcomed by anyone who has ever learned about his brilliant discoveries but wondered about Golgi, the person. In fact, all those with an interest in the history of science, and cell biology in particular, as well as those involved in neuroscience, medicine, and biochemistry will benefit from this book.