Mosso

Mosso Angelo (Angelo Mosso, 1846-1910), Italian physiologist; son of a carpenter; studied medicine in Turin, Leipzig, and Paris. In 1870, M. received his doctorate, and from 1876 he was professor of pharmacology, and from 1880 professor of physiology in Turin. In 1882 he founded and directed until the end of his life the "Archives italiennes de biologie" (Rome-Turin-Pisa-Paris), where the majority of his works were published. M. authored valuable works in the field of experimental physiology. He studied the influence of breathing, emotions, mental activity, physical work, and sleep on peripheral circulation, cerebral circulation, and blood distribution in the body; conducted a series of studies on esophageal movements, the bladder, fatigue, and the nature of mountain sickness. Numerous methods and instruments associated with his name have become indispensable in laboratories and clinics, such as the plethysmograph, sphygmomanometer, ergograph, and myotonometer.--The principal works of M.: "Die Diagnostik des Pulses" (Lpz., 1879); "Sulla circolazione del sangue nel cervello dell'uomo" (Roma, 1880); "La temperatura del cervello" (Milano, 1894); "Fisiologia dell'uomo sulle Alpi" (Milano, 1897). Many of Mosso's works were published in German and French; in Russian: "Strakh" (Fear) (Poltava, 1888), "Ustalost'" (Fatigue) (SPB, 1893).