William J. BAER1872–1931

William J. BAER

1872–1931

The specialty of orthopedic surgery, originating in the nineteenth century, was conceived to deal exclusively with pediatric problems. The first pro- fessor of orthopedic surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, William J. Baer, was appointed to organize a crippled children’s service. Baer was orthopedic consultant to the US Army Expedi- tionary Forces in France from 1917 to 1919, and returned to civilian life to join the generation of American surgeons destined to bring medical advances to the twentieth century to bear on prob- lems of childhood. Baer had a vivid imagination and fearless disregard of criticism. His pioneer work, along with the efforts of his contemporaries and their second and third generation students, continues today. Their accomplishments have all but eliminated hematogenous osteomyelitis, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, and crippling mani- festations of congenital dislocation of the hip and other heritable deformities.

William Morant BAKER

1839–1896

William Morant Baker was the son of a promi- nent lawyer who died when his son was only 10 years old. Baker became interested in medicine very early and worked as an apprentice with his local doctor until he was able to enter St.

Bartholomew’s Medical College. After his grad- uation in 1861, he became an assistant to James Paget. His medical interests were very diverse, and he wrote papers on many subjects, including the first description of erysipeloid and other dermatologic conditions. He was known for his ability, ingenuity, and diagnostic acumen. It is interesting that, although his career was cut short by the onset of locomotor ataxia (neurosyphilis), he was characterized in a posthumous tribute as being “physically and morally an English gentleman.”

The paper, “On the Formation of Synovial Cysts in the Leg in Connection with Disease of the Knee Joint,” indelibly attached Baker’s name to this condition.

Reference

1. Baker WM (1877) On the formation of synovial cysts in the leg in connection with disease of the knee joint. St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Report 13:245

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Who’s Who in Orthopedics