Perhaps, his most significant observation was that parasites produce eggs and develop from them, which contradicted the prevailing opinion that they are produced spontaneously. He described some 180 species of parasites. An important innovation from the book is his experiments in chemotherapy in which he employed the "control"', the basis of experimental design in modern biological research. In it he also differentiates the earthworm (generally regarded as a helminth) and Ascaris lumbricoides, the human roundworm. His next treatise in 1684 titled Osservazioni intorno agli animali viventi che si trovano negli animali viventi ( Observations on Living Animals, that are in Living Animals) recorded the descriptions and the illustrations of more than 100 parasites. His notable illustrations in the book are those relevant to ticks, including deer ticks and tiger ticks it also contains the first depiction of the larva of Cephenemyiinae, the nasal flies of deer, as well as the sheep liver fluke ( Fasciola hepatica). Redi was the first to describe ectoparasites in his Esperienze intorno alla generazione degl'insetti. Knowing full well the fates of outspoken thinkers such as Giordano Bruno and Galileo Galilei, Redi was careful to express his new views in a manner that would not contradict theological tradition of the Church hence, his interpretations were always based on biblical passages, such as his famous adage: omne vivum ex vivo ("All life comes from life"). Also, when dead flies or maggots were put in sealed jars with dead animals or veal, no maggots appeared, but when the same thing was done with living flies, maggots did. Redi continued his experiments by capturing the maggots and waiting for them to metamorphose, which they did, becoming flies. Illustration from Rediʼs Esperienze Intorno alla Generazione degl'Insetti This work marked the beginning of experimental toxinology/ toxicology. He even showed that by applying a tight ligature before the wound, the passage of venom into the heart could be prevented. He performed a series of experiments on the effects of snakebites, and demonstrated that venom was poisonous only when it enters the bloodstream via a bite, and that the fang contains venom in the form of yellow fluid. He explained rather how snake venom is unrelated to the snake’s bite, an idea contrary to popular belief. In this he began to break the prevailing scientific myths (which he called "unmasking of the untruths") such as vipers drink wine and shatter glasses, their venom is poisonous if swallowed, the head of dead viper is an antidote, the viper's venom is produced from the gallbladder, and so on. In 1664 Redi wrote his first monumental work Osservazioni intorno alle vipere ( Observations on vipers) to his friend Lorenzo Magalotti, secretary of the Accademia del Cimento. Scientific career Experimental toxicology He died in his sleep on 1 March 1697 in Pisa and his remains were returned to Arezzo for interment.Ī collection of his letters is held at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. A collection of his poems first published in 1685 Bacco in Toscana ("Bacchus in Tuscany") is considered among the finest works of 17th-century Italian poetry, and for which the Grand Duke Cosimo III gave him a medal of honor. He possibly originated the use of the control, the basis of experimental design in modern biology. He also distinguished earthworms from helminths (like tapeworms, flukes, and roundworms). He was also the first to recognize and correctly describe details of about 180 parasites, including Fasciola hepatica and Ascaris lumbricoides. He correctly observed that snake venoms were produced from the fangs, not the gallbladder, as was believed. He disproved that vipers drink wine and could break glasses, and that their venom was poisonous when ingested. His most famous experiments are described in his magnum opus Esperienze intorno alla generazione degl'insetti ( Experiments on the Generation of Insects), published in 1668. A rationalist of his time, he was a critic of verifiable myths, such as spontaneous generation. Having a doctoral degree in both medicine and philosophy from the University of Pisa at the age of 21, he worked in various cities of Italy. He was the first person to challenge the theory of spontaneous generation by demonstrating that maggots come from eggs of flies. He is referred to as the "founder of experimental biology", and as the "father of modern parasitology". Medicine, entomology, parasitology, linguisticsįrancesco Redi (18 February 1626 – 1 March 1697) was an Italian physician, naturalist, biologist and poet.
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