A Study of the Life and Accomplishments of Francesco Redi Francesco Redi was born on February 19, 1626 in Arezzo, Italy. He died on March 1, 1697 in Pisa, Italy. His father was Gregorio Redi a renowned Florentine physician who worked at the Medici court. His mothers name was Cecilia de' Ghinci. Redi was the eldest of nine brothers. He graduated in philosophy and medicine from the University of Pisa on May 1st 1647. On April 26, 1648 he registered at the Collegio Medico in Florence, and was the head physician and superintendent. He was also a Member of the small Accademia del Cimento which was in activity from 1657-1667. (World Book Deluxe) Redis first discovery was when Contrary to prevailing belief, Redi held that snake venom was completely unrelated to its bile. It was rather the yellow humor produced by two glands, which I have found in all vipers. The humor stagnates in the two sheaths in which the viper bares its fangs and strikes, it is of necessity spurted on the wound. Redi discovered that sucking on the tissues that had been injected with the venom would not make anyone sick; with this discovery, Redi concluded that in order for the poison to be effective it had to enter the bloodstream directly. He also discovered that in snake-bite victims that A tight ligature not far above the wound so the poison is not carried to the heart by the circular movement of the blood, and all the blood infected. (Gillespie 341) Redi was perhaps the first toxicologist; he performed countless experiments with the effects of the snakebite. He would, poison other animals with the venom taken from living, and dead snakes. He would sprinkle liquid or powdered venom on the wounds, or puncture the animal with a sharp piece of broomstick covered in the poison. He was trying to find out what mechanical reaction, killed the animal, however he was unsuccessful in his attempts to discover what killed them. (Gillespie 341)Redis masterpiece is considered to...
