Gabriele Zerbi

Gabriele Zerbi (1445–1505) was a Veronese professor at the Universities of Bologna and Padua. He was also referred to as Zerbus, Zerbo, Zerbis, Gerbo, Gerbi, and Gerbus. He survived the devastating bubonic plague outbreak of 1477–79 in Northern Italy. He published the first printed treatise on geriatrics, "Gerontocomia: On the Care of the Aged," which took the form of a practical guide. His other works included: Questiones Metaphysicae; De Cautelis Medicorum; Liber anatomiae corporis humani et singulorum membrorum illius; De anatomia infantiis et porci ex traditione Cophonis, and Libellus de preservatione corporum a passione calculosa. According to his will last dated on October 13, 1504, his wife Helena de' Metaselimi of Bologna and the godfather of his children Pietro of Mantua were the executors of his estate. After her, his estate would go to his four sons: Paolo, Hieronymo or Girolamo, Marco, and Giovanni Aloisio. In addition, he gave money to his daughters, Taddea and Hermodoria, his sisters, Clara and Angela, his brothers, Giovanni and Benedetto, and to his nephew, Francesco.

Gerontocomia discussed the coping and treating of elderly. It discussed topics such as diet, optimal living situations, beneficial medicines, and how to ensure the physical well-being of the elderly. De Cautelis Medicorum was a text discussing the medical ethics that a practicing physician should follow. The text included what a physician's appearance should resemble, hygienic habits, and preferred spiritual beliefs. Liber Anathomie Corporis Humani De Generatione Embrionis was Zerbi's last published essay; it covered most of Zerbi's work on pregnant animals.

Zerbi was a strong advocate for the code of physicians. This code includes six categories of rules all physicians should abide by. Rules for the course of studies and the perfection of the physician, according to the congenital dispositions of the soul and body. The obligations of the physician toward God. Recommendations for acquired dispositions and general conduct. The proper attitude toward the patient. Rules for the attitude toward the patient's family and other people involved with the cure. Regulation of the physician's relationship with the general public.

Zerbi gained much of his knowledge of human anatomy by dissecting various animals since human cadavers were scarce. By doing this, he opened up the first discipline of comparative anatomy.

He also was one of the first physicians to separate the organs into systems and focused his attention on the kidneys. He discovered veins do not enter inside the kidneys, but only reach their periphery. Zerbi hypothesized the kidneys act as a filter to filter liquid before it enters the bladder but other physicians doubted this.