Medical milestones, landmark publications, and notable births and deaths associated with February 4.

Events

2000 – World Cancer Day established at the World Cancer Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium held in Paris

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Births

1844 – Adolphe Pinard (1844–1934), French obstetrician. Described Pinard Obstetric Palpation and the Pinard horn (1895) [Stéthoscope obstétrical de Pinard] as well as numerous Pinard obstetric instruments and models. Designed the Pinard labour suites at Tarnier.

1910 – Sophie Spitz (1910-1956), American pathologist; described Spitz nevus (1948)

1940 – Theodore Henry Stanley (1940-2017); inventor of the “Fentanyl Lollipop”, a fast acting, convenient, non-invasive opioid delivery system for pain management. 

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Deaths

1994 – Maurice Lev (1908-1994), American cardiologist. Described Lenègre-Lev syndrome (1964), Lev’s Disease and the Aging Conduction System

1997 – John Haven “Jack” Emerson (1906-1997), American inventor and humanist; invented the Emerson Iron Lung (1931) and Emerson Post-Operative Suction Pump

2014 – Ruth Ellen Magenis (1925-2014), American pediatrician; described Smith-Magenis syndrome (1986)

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Further reading

• Kerr D. World summit against cancer for the new millennium: the Charter of Paris. Ann Oncol. 2000 Mar;11(3):253-4