As we learn throughout the reading, Andreas Versalius was a medical professional whom Lydgate looked up too tremendously, despite his ghastly reserach choices. Studies done by Versalius led to a huge progression in anatomy for the time period. Scientists had a better understanding of the human body, with a book published in 1543 by Versalius full of complex diagrams of the body, titled "De humani corporis fabrica libri septem" (On the Fabric of the Human Body in Seven Books). He had successful discovered parts of the human body that no anatomists had before, however, he made these discoveries through multiple dissections of the human body. During his studies, he participated in multiple human disections at the University of Paris, despite the school being against human dissection. After a few human dissections at school, Versalius went on to steal a body, risking getting arrested. He was known to dig up graves at night to study bones of the deceased. While in Middlemarch, only his work done through robbing graves and dead bodies was highlighted, but he did accomplish significant progressions in the medical field, which were not included. He spent a majority of his life dedicated to studying medicine, and traveled all around Europe learning and teaching his findings. While he did make significant contributions to the anatomic world, he did not get there without some seriously dirty work.

Personally, if my husband told me he wanted to be like a man who steals dead bodies and breaks into grave yards to study dead bodies, I would definitely be quite alarmed, so I do not blame Rosamond for her reactions. However, from Lydgate's standpoint, Vesalius did make major accomplishments in the medical field, and any doctor wishes to make the kind of medical impact through research that he did! Lydgate is very passionate about his work as a docotor, as was Vesalius, which is why Lydgate admires him for his work, even the gloomier aspects of his research. Coming from another point of view, if the people of the town knew of Lydgate's admiration for Vesalius, it could make them fearful of him. There was some mention that Lydgate was going to let one sick woman die, to use her body to research. While this was most likely not the case, if they had overheard Lydgate telling his wife his fasinations with a doctor who stole dead bodies, they could believe Lydgate was going to do the same. 

Sources: 

Ejavic, Nicole. "Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564." The Embryo Project Encylcopedia. 2018 https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/andreas-vesalius-1514-1564

"Andreas Vesalius 1514-1564" https://web.stanford.edu/class/history13/Readings/vesalius.htm#:~:text=Searching%20for%20more%20rigorous%20training,acquire%20a%20complete%20human%20skeleton.

"Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) and the books that made the father of humanity" University of Cambridge, 17 July 2014 https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/features/andreas-vesalius-1514-1564-and-the-books-that-made-the-father-of-anatomy