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

Events

1964 – Owen Conor Ward (1923-2021) Lancet publication of Romano-Ward syndrome noting this to be the ‘first time this condition had been described’ and recommending that an ECG be carried out on all fainting children. 

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Births

1835— Moritz Benedikt (1835-1920), Austro-Hungarian neurologist; described Benedikt syndrome (1889)

1849 – William Cecil Dabney (1849-1894), American physician and obstetrician; described ‘Devil’s grip’ (Bornholm disease) in 1888

1878 – Major Karl Albert Connell Sr (1878-1941) was an American surgeon, serviceman and inventor. Designed the Connell Airway (1912), Anæsthetometer (1913), Connell Gas Mask, and Connell Anaesthesia machine

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Deaths

1961— Thomas Bentley Throckmorton (1885-1961), American neurologist; described the Throckmorton sign (John Thomas sign) and Throckmorton reflex (1911)

1985 — Lotte Strauss (1913–1985), German-American pathologist; co-describer of Churg–Strauss syndrome (now eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, EGPA)

1997 – Margaret Doreen Baber (1910-1997), Welsh paediatrician; described Baber syndrome (1956)

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Further reading

• Corry A. Romano-Ward syndrome. LITFL