Advised to become a Salesian, he was accepted as an aspirant by Monsignor Cagliero and, at the age of 23, entered the house of Bernal. Among other things, he was entrusted with the care of a young priest who was suffering from tuberculosis. Artemide caught the disease. He was sent to the hospital of San José. While there, the priest, doctor, Fr. Evarisio Garrone, followed him, in a special way.

With him, he asked and received the grace of a cure from Mary Our Help. On his part, he promised to dedicate his whole life to the care of the sick. He was cured and kept his promise.

At first, he looked after the hospital Pharmacy. After the death of Fr. Garrone, he was totally responsible for the hospital, which became the scene of his holiness. He was totally devoted to his patients.

Someone described his day as follows: "At 4.30 he is already up. Meditation and Mass. Visit to all the wards. Then, on his bicycle, he visits the sick scattered throughout the city. After dinner he shares an enthusiastic game of bowls with the convalescents. From 2 until 6 p.m. he visits the sick again, in and outside the hospital. Until 8 p.m., he works in the pharmacy. Back to the wards again. Study and ascetical reading until 11 p.m. Then to bed, ever ready for any call."

In 1913 he directed the building of a new hospital, which later, to his great disappointment, was demolished in 1941, to make room for the episcopal residence for the new diocese of Viedma.

In 1950, a fall from a stairs forced him to retire. A few months later he showed symptoms of cancer. He died on March 15, 1951.

His remains lie in the Salesian Chapel of Viedma. John Paul II beatified him on April 14, 2002, in Rome.