Charles Cassidy Bass (January 29, 1875 – August 25 1975)[2] was an American medical doctor and researcher on tropical medicine who made significant contributions to understanding malaria, hookworm, and other diseases.

[3] Much of Bass's early work in tropical medicine was conducted in collaboration with fellow Tulane University researcher Foster Johns.

However, it was only upon his 1940 retirement from university administrative posts that he began intensive research on dental health, a period in which he made extensive use of his experience in parasitology and microbiology.

Bass carried out extensive investigation and experimentation to determine the best means of using toothbrushes and dental floss for effective prevention of the important diseases of the mouth.

[8] Bass widely promoted means of improved oral hygiene, purposefully avoiding his own personal profit in the interest of public health.

[10] His tenure included a tumultuous interaction with the administration of then Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long over the medical school's service of Charity Hospital (New Orleans).

He developed a particular interest in Tropical Medicine after attending a 1903 meeting of the American Medical Association, held in New Orleans on the subject of hookworm.

[13][12] On his return from his studies at Johns Hopkins University, Bass established a medical practice in New Orleans which included a self-financed research laboratory.