July 27 – On This Day in Medical History

Medical milestones, landmark publications, and notable births and deaths associated with July 27.

Events

1879 — William Macewen (1848–1924) performed the first documented successful resection of a brain tumour, using antiseptic trephining to remove a dural-based tumour (likely a meningioma) in a 14-year-old girl at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, with long-term recovery reported.

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Births

1851 – Graham Steell (1851-1942), Scottish physician and cardiologist; described the Graham Steell murmur (1888)

1890 – Jacques Forestier (1890-1978), French physician and rheumatologist; described the The Bowstring Sign of Forestier (1951), Forestier-Certonciny syndrome (1953) and was responsible for introducing Lipiodol and Contrast Myelography (1922)

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Deaths

1917 – Emil Theodor Kocher (1841-1917), Swiss Surgeon; decribed the Kocher Reflection, Kocher sign, Kocher manoeuvre (Kocherization), Kocher manoeuvre (shoulder), Kocher method, and many more…

1966 – Sir Norman McAlister Gregg (1892-1966), Australian ophthalmologist; described Gregg’s disease (Congenital Rubella Syndrome) in 1941

2005 – Jacob Churg (1910–2005), Belarussian/Polish born American practicing pathologist; described Churg–Strauss syndrome (1951)

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Further reading

• Macewen W. Tumour of the dura mater — convulsions — removal of tumour by trephining — recovery Glasgow Medical Journal 1879; 12: 210-213
• Cohen AR. William Macewen and the first documented successful resection of a brain tumor. Childs Nerv Syst. 2023 Nov;39(11):3019-3024.