Santorio Santorio (1561-1636) was an Italian physiologist, physician, and professor. From 1611 to 1624 he was a professor at Padua where he performed experiments in temperature, respiration and weight. Sanctorius studied what he termed insensible perspiration and originated the study of metabolism. Here he is shown in his famous weighing chair. He is credited with the design of the clinical thermometer and an early version of a waterbed.