Medical milestones, landmark publications, and notable births and deaths associated with March 5.

Events

2019 – Major cohort study into the MMR vaccine involving over 650,000 children in Denmark was released on this day, providing definitive evidence that the MMR vaccine does not increase the risk of autism

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Births

1794 – Benjamin Guy Babington (1794-1866), English physician; invented the Glottiscope (1829), provided an early description of Rendu-Osler-Weber disease and described Rubeola notha (bastard measles, later Rubella) in 1864

1824 – Elisha Harris (1824-1884), American physician. Pioneer in sanitary science and principal founder of the American Public Health Association (APHA) in 1872.

1871 – Louis Ombrédanne (1871-1956), French paediatric surgeon. Developed the Ombrédanne inhaler, Ombrédanne operation for transscrotal orchidopexy, Ombrédanne pouch operation for hypospadias. Described Ombrédanne–Armingeat syndrome, and Ombrédanne quadrants and Ombrédanne line in radiographic assessment of the paediatric hip.

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Deaths

1815 – Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815), German physician; developed the theory of “animal magnetism”. His techniques of suggestion (Mesmerism), were the precursor to modern hypnotism and laid early groundwork for psychosomatic medicine

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Further reading

• Hviid A, Hansen JV, Frisch M, Melbye M. Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccination and Autism: A Nationwide Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2019 Apr 16;170(8):513-520
• Radovancević L. Doprinos pionira hipnoterapije–Dr. Franza Antona Mesmera u povijesti psihoterapije i medicine [Tribute of the pioneer of hypnotherapy, Franz Anton Mesmer, MD, PhD in the history of psychotherapy and medicine]. Acta Med Hist Adriat. 2009;7(1):49-60.