The facts behind Thomas Elkins.

Thomas Elkins was an African-American dentist, abolitionist, surgeon, pharmacist, and inventor.

Thomas Elkins was an African-American dentist, abolitionist, surgeon, pharmacist, and inventor. He lived in Albany, New York, for most of his life, but travelled during his service as the medical examiner of the 54th and 55th Massachusetts infantries and visited Liberia. Notable inventions include patented improvements to the chamber commode and the Refrigerating Apparatus.