German solid silver centerpiece, Late 19th early 20th century

Literature:
Dante De Blasi (1873–1956) was a prominent Italian immunologist, bacteriologist, and hygienist. He served as Director of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health) in 1935 and the Consiglio superiore di sanità (Superior Council of Health) from 1935 to 1943. Originally from Uggiano la Chiesa, he demonstrated exceptional scholarly abilities from an early age, distinguished by his broad cultural background and mastery of numerous languages.

After earning his medical degree at the University of Rome, he began his academic career, first teaching Bacteriology and later Hygiene in Cagliari, Naples, and Rome, where he succeeded Giuseppe Sanarelli. He contributed to drafting the 1934 Consolidated Health Laws, focusing in particular on developing and enhancing local healthcare services, and dedicated himself to the fight against malaria.

His scientific research spanned primarily bacteriology and serology. Among his most significant contributions are the description of the “De Blasi Phenomenon” in the agglutination of typhoid fever, the study of various bacterial strains that cause dysentery, and experiments on tumor reproduction. Also noteworthy are his investigations into the filterability of the rabies virus and the transmission of antibodies through milk. Furthermore, he helped control an outbreak of typhoid fever in Albano Laziale and Genzano di Roma by pinpointing a waterborne source, earning him a prestigious accolade at the Strasbourg Exhibition in 1923.