Malachia del Cristoforis (1832-1915)
He receives a degree in medicine and surgery at the University of Pavia in 1856 and then continues his career as head physician at the “Ospedale Maggiore” of Milan where he is mainly engaged in obstetrics and gynaecologic studies achieving a university teaching qualification in this subject in 1883 at the University of Naples. An outstanding actor of the “Risorgimento” policy he fights –being only twelve years old – in the “Cinque Giornate” in Milan and then in 1860 by Garibaldi’s side. The civil and political commitment characterizes the whole life of De Cristoforis first at the Milan Municipality as a counselling advisor for education from 1899 to 1903 and then at the Chamber and Senate with parliamentary bills of 1897 and 1902.
He conceived and directed several paramount social security initiatives: charitable organization of free climatic treatment for poor pupils of elementary schools of Milan, charitable organization of youngsters’ protection, society for cremation (the first in Italy), etc.
He is extremely active also internationally and it is he who convenes the 1st International Congress on Occupational Diseases and founds and chairs the Permanent Commission.