Rolla Neil Harger (January 14, 1890 – August 8, 1983) was an American biochemist. He invented an early

breathalyzer A breathalyzer or breathalyser (a portmanteau of ''breath'' and ''analyzer/analyser''), also called an alcohol meter, is a device for measuring breath alcohol (drug), alcohol content (BrAC). It is commonly utilized by law enforcement officers ...

, called the Drunkometer, to test for

driving under the influence Driving under the influence (DUI) is the crime of driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while one is impaired from doing so safely by the effect of either alcohol (drug), alcohol (see drunk driving) or some other drug, whether re ...

in 1931; he was awarded the patent in 1936. He was biochemistry and pharmacology department chairman of the

Indiana University School of Medicine The Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) is a major, multi-campus medical school located throughout the US state, U.S. state of Indiana and is both the Medical school, undergraduate and Graduate medical education, graduate medical school o ...

from 1933 to 1956 and worked as a professor in the department of biochemistry and toxicology from 1922 to 1960.

Biography

Harger was born on January 14, 1890, in Sherman Township, Decatur County, Nebraska. He used Nebraska on his World War I draft registration and Decatur County, Kansas on his World War II draft registration. He graduated from

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

in 1922. Harger was an

assistant professor Assistant professor is an academic rank just below the rank of an associate professor used in universities or colleges, mainly in the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. Overview This position is generally taken after earning a doct ...

in the newly formed department of biochemistry and pharmacology. In 1931, he invented the Drunkometer to test for

. In 1938, he was one of the five people chosen to be on the subcommittee of the

National Safety Council The National Safety Council (NSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public service organization promoting health and safety in the United States. Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, NSC is a member organization, founded in 1913 and granted a congress ...

that drafted the model legislation that set the

blood alcohol content Blood alcohol content (BAC), also called blood alcohol concentration or blood alcohol level, is a measurement of alcohol intoxication used for legal or medical purposes. BAC is expressed as mass of alcohol per volume of blood. In US and many i ...

for

. Dr. Harger died on August 8, 1983, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harger, Rolla Neil 1890 births 1983 deaths Indiana University faculty Indiana University School of Medicine faculty Breathalyzer Yale University alumni