Background
Paolo Mascagni was born on January 25, 1755, in Pomarance, Toscana, Italy to the family of captain Andrea Mascagni and Elisabetta di Carlo Burroni both belonging to ancient families of Chiusdino, in the province of Siena.
Banchi di Sotto, 55, 53100 Siena SI, Italy
Mascagni received his early education at home and then was sent to the University of Siena where he studied philosophy, literature, physics, mathematics, and medicine. Mascagni, whom Lalande included among the learned men of Siena, graduated in philosophy and medicine in 1778.
Banchi di Sotto, 55, 53100 Siena SI, Italy
Mascagni received his early education at home and then was sent to the University of Siena where he studied philosophy, literature, physics, mathematics, and medicine. Mascagni, whom Lalande included among the learned men of Siena, graduated in philosophy and medicine in 1778.
Paolo Mascagni was elected a president of the Accademia dei Fisiocritici in 1798.
Paolo Mascagni was elected a corresponding member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1796.
Paolo Mascagni was born on January 25, 1755, in Pomarance, Toscana, Italy to the family of captain Andrea Mascagni and Elisabetta di Carlo Burroni both belonging to ancient families of Chiusdino, in the province of Siena.
Mascagni received his early education at home and then was sent to the University of Siena where he studied philosophy, literature, physics, mathematics, and medicine. Mascagni, whom Lalande included among the learned men of Siena, graduated in philosophy and medicine in 1778.
Upon graduating in 1778, a renowned anatomist Pietro Tabarrini took Mascagni as an assistant. Upon Tabarrini's death in 1780, Mascagni was appointed as an anatomy lecturer at the University of Siena. At that time the Academy of Sciences of Paris proposed to “determine and demonstrate the system of the lymphatic vessels.” The theory of the lymphatic vessels had been all but forgotten in Italy; and although Frederik Ruysch had tried to reawaken interest in the subject in Holland, Albrecht Haller, by denying the existence of lymphatic vessels in certain parts of the body, and cast doubt on the entire lymphatic system. By 1784 Mascagni was able to send the Academy the first part of a work on the lymphatic vessels illustrated with numerous plates. Although his work, Vasorum lymphaticorum historia, arrived late, he was awarded a special prize. The Historia paved the way for progress in anatomy, physiology, and clinical medicine, for 50 percent of the lymphatic vessels now known were discovered by Mascagni.
In studying the origin of the lymphatic vessels, Mascagni established that every vessel must in its course enter one or more lymph glands. He rearranged and completed the observations of others and overhauled their techniques. Mascagni also performed experiments, using the mercury injection method and so improving it that it surpassed all preceding techniques. In the light of his excellent results, the simplicity of the technique is truly surprising. The only instrument used was a tubular needle bent at a right angle; yet he observed, named, and described nearly all the lymph glands and vessels of the human body, checking earlier observations and carrying out new ones.
Mascagni examined the views of Boerhaave and his followers, who believed that the lymphatics arose from the tips of the arteries and were shaped like ramified conical vessels. These vessels formed canals that gradually became thinner; and these canals, by continuing into the veins, brought some sort of material to the blood and therefore were related to the lymphatic system. Mascagni demonstrated, however, that such arterial and venous lymphatics did not exist. After examining the work of Noguez, Hamberger, and Hoffmann and the results of his own researches, Mascagni concluded that the lymphatic system originates from all the cavities and surfaces of the body, both internal and external and is related to the absorbing function. By means of colored injections, he demonstrated the communication between the lymphs and the serous vessels.
Mascagni was appointed a professor of anatomy at Pisa; he was also invited to hold professorships at Bologna and Padua but accepted the vacant post at Florence. Indeed, the Tuscan government, desirous of securing his services, not only created one professorship covering anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and the teaching of art anatomy but also doubled the stipend. In appreciation of this generous offer, Mascagni began to prepare anatomical models for use by students of sculpture and painting. The various systems of the human body were to be represented on life-size figures, a grandiose concept that was carried out with the help of illustrations by Sienese artists. The huge cost of this colossal editorial venture obliged Mascagni to draw on his salary and even to mortgage the family estate. These generous efforts failed to yield the desired results, for he died before completing his lifework.
There was considerable political discord in Italy during the eighteenth century, and when the French occupied Tuscany in the late 1700s Mascagni became involved in politics and reluctantly served for several years as superintendent of the arts, sciences, and charitable institutions of Siena. This was a difficult and unhappy time in his life; he was in continuous conflict with the French over their incessant commandeering of personal and public property. When the Austrians regained control of the province, instead of being praised for his efforts on behalf of his fellow citizens, he was accused of collaborating with the French. He was arrested, spent several months in prison, and was eventually set free after a series of court battles.
Mascagni disproved the theory that the lymphatics originated from the terminal arteries and were continued in the veins through various very fine tubules. This ended the idea that there were arterial and venous lymphatics. After thoroughly examining the work of other anatomists and analyzing the results of his own investigations, he concluded that the lymphatic system originates from all the internal and external cavities and surfaces of the body and is directly related to the function of absorption.
Besides his serious and lasting commitment to anatomy and medicine, Mascagni had a number of other scientific interests which included mineralogy, botany, chemistry, and agriculture.
There is no information on whether Paolo Mascagni was ever married or had any children.