This is an image of both the obverse and reverse of a bronze medal commemorating William Withering designed by Abram Belskie in 1970 for the Medallic Art Company [MAco 69-14-15]. -- William Withering (1741-1799) was an English botanist, geologist, chemist, physician and the discoverer of digitalis. His publication of "An Account of the Foxglove, and Some of its Medical Uses: with practical remarks on dropsy, and other diseases" marks a defining moment in the history of medicine. -- For more historical articles on Dr. Withering in PubMed see: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Withering+W[PS] -- This 44 mm diameter medal is cast in bronze and was issued by Presidential Art Medal, New York (N.Y.). The obverse of the medal reads: . WILLIAM . WITHERING . | 1741 | 1799 | DISCOVERER OF DIGITALIS | © ABRAM BELSKIE 1971 PAM | with a clothed bust of Dr. William Withering facing center right. The reverse of the medal reads: DIGITA | LIS | PURPUREA | FOX | GLOVE | (22 H38 09) | and depicts the human heart and aorta with the leaves and flower of digitalis, the genus of a plant species commonly called foxgloves. Abram Belskie (1907-1988) was an artist and sculptor that combined two disparate disciplines – art and medicine. He was a medical sculptor for life-size scientifically correct anatomical models, in addition to being a numismatic sculptor. He was a faculty member at New York Medical College. He designed the "50 Men of Medicine" series (1969-1974) for the Medallic Art Company, New York. A historical review of notable scientists and doctors from Hippocrates to George Minot were selected by medical historians. The 50 medals were struck in silver and bronze (MAco-69-14-1 thru 69-14-50). This fifty medal series was issued by Presidential Art Medal, Inc. see: The Belskie Museum of Art & Science, New Jersey (www.belskiemuseum.com).
