death of Dr. Samuel W. Abbott (q. v.), who died in October of that year, retaining, however, his professorship in the school.
Dr. Harrington's most noteworthy literary contributions to public sanitation and the advancement of preventive medicine were, his study of the methods of disinfection, especially of disinfection of the hands of the surgeon, his long struggle in behalf of clean milk, and his text-book, "Practical Hygiene," published by Lea Brothers of Philadelphia in 1901, the fourth edition of which he had begun just before his death, which was due to chronic myocardial disease. He was on the editorial staff of the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal for several years and contributed some fifty papers to various professional journals.
In his judgment of men and affairs Dr. Harrington was very critical but instinctively just. He had a forceful personality and having positive opinions expressed them on proper occasions, his whole-souled genial manner making him a host of friends. He was a peculiarly jovial and companionable man and he had in addition an unusual development of that most happy quality, a strong sense of humor. "If I should have to say," remarked one of his comrades, "what of his many qualities made him so loved by his friends, it was his ever ready human sympathy and helpfulness. His glad hand and cheering word were always ready for others."
No better appreciation of the character and public service of Dr. Harrington can be found than that expressed by the Faculty of Medicine of Harvard University after his death: "A genial comrade, an accurate observer, a sound teacher, a wise counsellor, a fearless and incorruptible public servant, his place will long remain unfilled."
He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and of many other societies and clubs, medical and social. Twice he represented the United States Government at international congresses of hygiene.
Harris, Chapin Aaron (1806–1860).
Chapin was born at Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, May 6, 1806, the son of John and Elizabeth Brundage Harris, natives of England. When about seventeen he moved to Madison, Ohio, and studied under his brother John, who was practising medicine there. After pursuing the course of study prescribed by law, he was examined by the Board of Medical Censors of Ohio and was licensed to practise. He commenced to practise himself at Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio, and continued there some years, when his attention was called to the possibilities of dentistry by his brother John, who had taken it up in 1827. In 1883, after study and practise of dentistry, Chapin settled in Baltimore, and during the next two years contributed to the pages of medical and periodical literature.
He published his first book in 1839; it was entitled, "The Dental Art: A Practical Treatise on Dental Surgery," and went through thirteen editions. Many thousand copies of this book, probably the most popular on dental work ever published, were sold. Next came his "Dictionary of Dental Science," a dictionary of dental science, biography, bibliography, and medical terminology, 1849 (five editions), the later editions also edited by Gorgas. In 1846 he revised with numerous additions Joseph Fox's "Disease of the Human Teeth, Their Natural History and Functions, with Mode of Applying Artificial Teeth, Etc." He also translated for the American Journal of Dental Science the works of a number of French authors.
He was a laborious and untiring worker, writing far into the morning after days of ceaseless labor and fatigue and keeping this up to the end of his life. For the preservation and extension of the experience of dentists he interested some of his New York brethren, and with their aid founded The American Journal of Dental Science. In the need for educational advantages for dentists they joined him in a petition to the authorities of Maryland University to found a dental department. This effort failing, together with a similar one in one of the New York medical colleges, they determined upon independent action and during 1839–40 secured signatures of citizens to the Legislature of Maryland for the incorporation of a College of Dental Surgery in Baltimore. The charter was granted February 1, 1840. Dr. Harris received several degrees—M. A. from the University of Maryland; M. D. from Washington Medical College, Baltimore, 1838; D. D. S. from Philadelphia Dental College, 1854. The Harris Dental Association of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, founded in 1867, was named in his honor. He was a diligent reader and student and collected a large and valuable private library.
He was remarkably handsome; was six feet two and a half inches in height and finely pro-
