Angelo Maffucci

Angelo Maria Maffucci (October 27, 1847 – November 24, 1903) was an Italian pathologist of the nineteenth century. His most important scientific contribution is related to the description of the disease known as Maffucci's Syndrome. Maffucci was a pioneer in the field of embryonal infective pathology. His settlement in Pisa, as the chairman of Pathology, represents a very significant moment for the Pisan academic environment and for the University of Pisa.

Biography

Early life and education Angelo Maria Maffucci was an Italian pathologist born in the town of Calitri in the province of Avellino on October 27, 1847, from a family of farmers, son of Michele and Benedetta Nicolais. His parents, who at first wanted him to continue the traditional family business, to then embrace the ecclesiastical career, were disappointed when after completing his secondary studies, Maffucci enrolled in the degree course in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Naples from which he graduated in 1872.

Of his prolific activity remain numerous manuscripts, prints, drawings and watercolours illustrations, with meticulous precision, the observations made in many years of medical practice, today conserved in the library of History of Medicine of the university La Sapienza of Rome. Maffucci was a member of numerous academies and scientific societies, including the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, and he received from the Venetian Institute of Sciences, Letters and Arts a prize for the progress in Medical Sciences.

Maffucci had described in 1881 the diseases for the first time, in a 40-year-old woman, hospitalized for a vascular tumor prone to severe and frequent bleeding, which died from complications resulting from amputation of the limb (site of the tumor). The mutation is thought to occur in a cell during early development before birth; cells that arise from that abnormal cell have the mutation, while the body's other cells do not. This situation is called mosaicism.

Through his scientific work Maffucci contributes to realizing the dream of serotherapy based on the production of a vaccine obtained from the attenuated living bacilli and a sero-prophylaxis aimed at combating and eradicating tuberculosis disease.

Honours and awards Despite his shy and reserved character, Angelo Maffucci had some important honours related to his work.

He was dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Pisa; In 1900 he was elected Member Ordinary of the Accademia dei Lincei as international of Italian Pathology; King Umberto I himself wanted to show him his esteem by giving him, for his experiments, horses and calves of the Roval Estates of Coltano and San Rossore.