Giovanni Rasori (1766-1837) earned a medical degree in Pisa in 1785. His career was affected by the varied circumstances of northern Italy during the Napoleonic wars, and that included his imprisonment from 1814-18. He was the Sanitary Inspector-General of the Cisalpine Republic. In 1792, he published a translation of John Brown’s book, Elements of Medicine, written in 1780. The book expounded a theory that life is based on an inherent irritability and that health requires a balance between excessive and inadequate stimulation. Rasori modified this theory of health by substituting “counter-stimulation” for "asthenia." His most potent counter-stimulants were bleeding and antimony. In 1816, he contracted malaria and concluded that its cause must be a parasite rather than bad air, but this new idea remained unpublished until 1846. Despite his theorizing, Rasori made objective pathological observations.
- Medal
Bronze. Italy 1837. Signed. Posthumous. Struck upon his death.
- Size
25 mm
- Artist
Vittorio Nesti, Italian sculptor and medallist Vittorio Nesti, Italian sculptor and medallist of the second quarter of the 19th century, from Florence; lived in Milan and worked with the group of artists, Charity. He turned to engraving when he had financial problems to complete his project in the church of San Carlo al Corso. He is known for the portrait medals of famous Italians. (Forrer 4, 239)
- Obverse
Nude head to right; below, in a curve, NESTI ; in a curve at left and right, GIOVANNI RASORI.
- Reverse
In the field, INFRANSE / L'IDOLO DI COO / AL CULTO /DEL VERULAMIO /ADDUSSE IGEA in five lines; below an ornamental line, MORIVA IN MILANO / MDCCCXXXVII in two lines.
- Ref
Storer 2934
