COIT 238 COIT Nathaniel Potter's office, and soon after he de- voted himself to the study of ear disease. He was an intimate friend of George Frick (q. v.), the oculist, and, like him, had wide interest in science beyond the domain of medicine. Thus for a time he became profes- sor of mineralogy in the academic department of the University of Maryland. He was much interested in her Medical and Chirurgical Faculty, was the treasurer from 1839 to 1856, and president from 1857-58; also an active member of the Maryland Academy of Sci- ences. He practised until about 1851, devot- ing himself almost exclusively to otology, and his reputation as an aurist was considerable. In 1840 he estabhshed, in connection with his friend, Dr. Samuel Chew (q. v.), an eye and ear institute in Baltimore. Dr. Cohen was one of the earliest, perhaps the first aurist in this country. He has left us but one publication which pertains to dis- eases of the ear. It is entitled "Postmortem Appearances in a Case of Deafness," Amer- ican Medical Intelligencer, July, 1841, to July, 1842, p. 226, vol. i. He died in Balti- more in 1870. Harry Friedenwald. Early Hist, of Ophthalmology, Friedenwald. Johns Hopkins Hospital Bulletin, 1897. Coit, Henry Leber (1854-1917) Henry Leber Coit, founder of the Medical Milk Commission, and originator of the term "certified milk," was born in Peapack, New Jersey, March 16, 1854, son of the Rev. John Summerfield Coit, and Ellen, daughter of Colonel Francis Neafie of Fairfield, New Jersey. His ancestors came from Wales in 1632 to Salem, Massachusetts, afterwards moving to New London, Connecticut; the family were among the early Methodists. His grandfather, Nathaniel Coit, was a pioneer of the town of Bloomfield, New Jersey; an uncle, George W. Coit, was a surgeon in Iowa. His father having died, the subject of our sketch with his mother and her other chil- dren moved to Newark, New Jersey, and here received his early education in the public schools. He graduated at the College of Pharmacy, New York, in 1876, and was vale- dictorian of his class ; he became chemist with Tarrant and Company, New York, but several years later took up the study of medi- cine and graduated M. D. at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in 1883. He began to practise in Newark, and soon specialized in pediatrics, which became his life work. His interest in this branch was aroused when in seeking to procure pure milk for a little son, whom he lost, he saw the filthy condition of the farm of the dairyman who sold milk to the residents of Newark, dipping it from a forty-quart can. In 1890 he tried to obtain legislation but failed; then presented a plan to the Practi- tioners' Club, that was heartily endorsed ; and on December 5, 1890, read a paper before the Club outlining a plan providing for chemi- cal, bacteriological, and veterinary standards with medical supervision of dairy hygiene as well as the health of employees — this plan in all essentials remains unchanged. In 1893 the Medical Milk Commission of Essex County was formed, the first to be established in the United States ; in 1896 a commission was formed in New York, in 1897 one in Phila- delphia, and at the time of Dr. Coit's death over sixty commissions were operating in the United States, two in Canada, several in Europe and two or three in Asia. Dr. Floy McEwen, secretary of the Medical Milk Commission of Essex County, New Jersey, says : "To Dr. Coit's untiring labors, generous expenditure of time and strength and steadfastness of purpose are in largest measure due the development and success of the Medical Milk Commission." In 1896 the Babies' Hospital, the second in the United States, was established in Newark, the outcome of Coit's efforts; the New York Babies' Hospital was the first. His work in preventive medicine was known in Europe as well as in this country. Dr. Coit was twice president of the Ameri- can Association of Medical Milk Commissions which followed the local organization ; vice- • president of the International Society of Goutte de Lait (milk dispensaries) with head- quarters in Brussels. He went abroad four times to attend medical congresses. Dr. Coit's published papers include : "The Feeding of Infants" (1890); "The Care of the Baby" (1894); "Causation of Disease by Milk" (1894); "The Public School as a Fac- tor in Preventing Infant and Child Mortality" (1912); "Certified Milk" (1912). His definition of "certified milk" is lucid. He says : "Certified milk is a product of dairies operated under the direction of a Medical Milk Commission, which body is ap- pointed for voluntary service by a medical society. The milk is designed to fulfill stand- ards of quality, purity and safety to insure its adaptability for clinical purposes and the feeding of infants." In 1886 he married Emma G., daughter of John M. Gwinnell of Newark ; she survived him with three daughters, Jesse, Eleanor and Edith and one son, Henry Gwinnell.
