William Morrant Baker
Encyclopedia
William Morrant Baker was an English physician and surgeon. He first described the condition now known as Baker's cyst
.
town of Andover. He was apprenticed to the local surgeon
, Mr. Payne. In 1858 he entered St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical School
in London and qualified in 1861.
Baker became Sir James Paget
's assistant for many years. From 1869 until 1885, he was lecturer in general anatomy
and physiology
at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He was elected an assistant surgeon to the hospital in 1871 and a surgeon in 1882. He resigned his post as surgeon in 1892 due to his own locomotor ataxia
condition. He was then appointed a governor of the hospital.
Baker was also surgeon, later consultant surgeon, to the Evelina Children's Hospital
, London and was examinator of general anatomy and physiology at the Royal College of Surgeons
.
which is named after him, as are Baker's cannula, a flexible tracheal cannula
and Baker's disease a defect of the periarticular ligament
s. Baker's other major contribution was his original description in 1873 of a kind of infective dermatitis
known today as erysipeloid
.
Baker's cyst
A Baker's cyst, also known as a popliteal cyst, is a benign swelling of the semimembranous or more rarely some other synovial bursa found behind the knee joint. It is named after the surgeon who first described it, William Morrant Baker...
.
Life
William Morrant Baker was the son of a solicitor in the HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
town of Andover. He was apprenticed to the local surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, Mr. Payne. In 1858 he entered St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical School
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
in London and qualified in 1861.
Baker became Sir James Paget
James Paget
Sir James Paget, 1st Baronet was a British surgeon and pathologist who is best remembered for Paget's disease and who is considered, together with Rudolf Virchow, as one of the founders of scientific medical pathology. His famous works included Lectures on Tumours and Lectures on Surgical Pathology...
's assistant for many years. From 1869 until 1885, he was lecturer in general anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
and physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He was elected an assistant surgeon to the hospital in 1871 and a surgeon in 1882. He resigned his post as surgeon in 1892 due to his own locomotor ataxia
Locomotor ataxia
Locomotor ataxia is the inability to precisely control one's own bodily movements. Persons afflicted with this disease may walk in a jerky, nonfluid manner. They will not know where their arms and legs are without looking, but can, for instance, feel and locate a hot object placed against their feet...
condition. He was then appointed a governor of the hospital.
Baker was also surgeon, later consultant surgeon, to the Evelina Children's Hospital
Evelina Children's Hospital
Evelina Children's Hospital is a specialist NHS hospital in London. It is administratively a part of Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and provides teaching hospital facilities for King's College London...
, London and was examinator of general anatomy and physiology at the Royal College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
.
Work
He wrote a number of articles on bone and joint problems. He became regarded as an expert in renal surgery, particularly nephrolitomy. He first described the knee joint problem Baker's cystBaker's cyst
A Baker's cyst, also known as a popliteal cyst, is a benign swelling of the semimembranous or more rarely some other synovial bursa found behind the knee joint. It is named after the surgeon who first described it, William Morrant Baker...
which is named after him, as are Baker's cannula, a flexible tracheal cannula
Cannula
A cannula or canula is a tube that can be inserted into the body, often for the delivery or removal of fluid or for the gathering of data...
and Baker's disease a defect of the periarticular ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
s. Baker's other major contribution was his original description in 1873 of a kind of infective dermatitis
Dermatitis
-Etymology:Dermatitis derives from Greek derma "skin" + -itis "inflammation" and genetic disorder.-Terminology:There are several different types of dermatitis. The different kinds usually have in common an allergic reaction to specific allergens. The term may describe eczema, which is also called...
known today as erysipeloid
Erysipeloid
In humans, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infections most commonly present in a mild cutaneous form known as erysipeloid. E. rhusiopathiae can cause an indolent cellulitis, more commonly in individuals who handle fish and raw meat. It gains entry typically by abrasions in the hand. Bacteremia and...
.