Harries, Eric Henry Rhys

1894-1959

2 boxes

These papers were donated to the library at Wellcome Collection in 2001 by Harries' son.

Harries qualified in medicine at the London Hospital in 1906 and went on to hold various posts at the Royal Northern Hospital, the North Eastern Hospital for Infectious Diseases, the Victoria Hospital for Sick Children and Fazakerley City Hospital. From 1912 to 1916 he was Tuberculosis Officer for Newport. From 1916 to 1919 he served in the RAMC as an infectious diseases specialist, including at Basra and Rawalpindi, and also at Quetta during the Afghan War. On his return to the UK in 1919 he served on medical boards assessing demobilised soldiers for pensions and other grants. The following year Harries was appointed Medical Superintendent, Little Bromwich City Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Birmingham, where he oversaw the redevelopment of the hospital. He took a particular interest in skin tests, such as the Schick test for diphtheria, to identify susceptible members of hospital staff, and also promoted the cause of diphtheria immunisation. In 1931 Harries became Medical Superintendent of the North Eastern Fever Hospital in Tottenham, London where he again oversaw a major building project, and later became Chief Medical Superintendent of all the London County Council fever hospitals. Harries was also active in the Medical Officers of Schools Association and the Section of School Medical Officers of the Royal Society of Medicine. He was co-author, with Maurice Mitman, of the standard work Clinical Practice in Infectious Diseases, first published in 1940.