Columbia University College of Pharmacy - Apothekan Yearbook (New York, NY)

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BIOLOGY What is biology? In a text-book they could give you quite an explanation of that question; but if it was all boiled down, it would be defined as the study of living things. Its relationship to pharmacy is evident, as a working knowledge of the structure and functions of living things is a necessary background for today ' s pharmacist. We have worked hard to attain this education, and in the process of doing so have come to realize the enormity of the realm whose surface we have but barely scratched. There was a geometric symmetry to the design in which the college presented our courses in biological science. As botany was a natural prerequisite to pharma- cognosy, so zoology was to physiology; and the two kingdoms, both vegetable and ani- mal, were combined in the study of pharma- cology. Gazing now in retrospect, and taking first things first, our course in botany must be recalled to mind. It was here that Pro- fessor Frank J. Pokorny, machette in hand, hacked a path for us through the vast jungle called the Plant Kingdom. Along the way we encountered the Thallaphyta, Bryophyta, Pteredophyta, Spermatophyta, and who could forget the life and loves of the pine tree. Professor Pokorny, A.M., B.S., and head of the local G.O., did much to make clear the differences between the sepals and petals. Here was a man who fully under- stood that the disecting technique of his students often left much to be desired. In accordance with this understanding, sec- onds and thirds on the various specimens were generously supplied. Glick usually took fourths or fifths, but only because- his appetite was of a greater magnitude. Then at last the great, day arrived; the sun was streaming dowry in all its splendor, the birds and the: bees were out getting acquainted . . . the Ginko tree was in bloom over in Central Park. So bidding fair adieu to Ernie up in the Botany Laboratory, we went off .;on ; : : a memorable trek. Ernie wanted to come along too, but he drew the short stf« r and had to si qy and correct papers jor Miss Nestler.. As antiTmn waned and passed into winter, marfcng the end of another cycle for the: plants, the ever-versatile Professor Pokorny nhisfed:uj): -the semester; discussing the Rhodophyceae. Phonetically speaking, this was the high-point of the course, arid will always be remembered whenever and:. wherever Red Algae gather, » : ■ As a class we were feeling. pretty good, Our first set of finals had been djsposed.of . . . likewise, some of us. Realizing bur state of mental exhuberance, the powers that be decided that a little sobriety was in order. And so it was that the first lecture of the new term was presented to us by the eminent Professor H. Randolph Halsey. Where, wherel Smoke the drum. Flash!

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developing a sense of personal independ- ence in the compounder. It would be dishonest to say that Mr. Kanig was adu- lated by the students — his temperament hardly led to student expression through such channels. It must be stated, however, that the class encountered few instructors as competent as he. E. Emerson Leuallen reserved the most difficult task for himself: that of teaching the comparatively new subject, the Phar- macy of Medicinal Substances. A staggering amount of material was included in the syllabus, and since almost all of this was of direct and primary interest to the prac- titioner, little could be de-emphasized. Leuallen entered into the battle with great imagination and energy and it appeared that he emerged victorious, since the class did rather well on his difficult examinations. He introduced a system which is in rather common usage in academic circles, that of volitional attendance only. His true reward for such confidence was forthcoming, for rare indeed was the individual who absented himself from the Professor ' s lec- tures without good cause. The delivery of the material left little to be desired, and everyone soon became aware that the man possessed a fine sense of humor. This was further indicated by his sanctioning of MADCAP activities, and the jocular re- marks that dotted his sessions. Senior Dispensing added little to our store of knowledge other than the acquiring of increased facility in pharmaceutical techniques. Perhaps the most unorthodox labora- tory procedures ever indulged in by stu- dents any where were performed in Professor Leonard T. Chavkin ' s Tincture Laboratory. There was general agreement among the members of the class that the course had become antiquated and was of little value. Any information gleaned therein could be obtained elsewhere with less strenuous effort. Chavkin, although never actually a disciplinarian, exercised just enough re- straint to prevent things from getting out of hand. He didn ' t object to the percolation of coffee (this being a practical application of the course), but when the situation dis- rupted the classroom decorum, the red light was flashed. But for all the good fun indulged in here, we are confident that another peg was driven to where it could lend support to our future careers and ambitions. As seniors, we have arrived at the point where we shall shortly assume a place in pharmacy alongside the men now engaged in the profession. We sincerely hope that we shall be able to carry with us at all times that which is a pharmacist ' s heritage, and abide by the precept faithfully taught over the four years — integrity o( character, truly Pharmacy ' s creed — H. G. Into the Bottle

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This was the course modeled after the audience-participation type of program. Dr. Halsey, in his autobiography, Miracles Can Happen (250 pp., Van Pelt and Brown, $5.00), revealed that this actually was a method of taking the role. From the start it was clear that before passing from zoology into the upper strata of the College, we would have to work, ■ and work hard. Dr. Halsey assured us that v i if necessary he would have all of us attend r t W I ! the matinee performances of the Summer : Stock Players at Hunter. Some of our more naive individuals will attest to the candid- ft» ' «. 4 ness of that assurance. V Mfll l V Before becoming veterans of zoology, Cu SL . we mastered every level of animal society, JP i Mt from the one-celled amoeba to the complex JtSJUT- . dfl m rnnm nl. Unquestionably, the work per- formed, on the cat was the culminating point . r ,t. -Xv ' .-Xv X „ : v : : Xv.-.-x-XvX-Xi. ■ i i i Loan Me Some Plugs. ol the course, tor here, in a highly complex animal which closely simulated man, the striking resemblance to the lower animals Pokorny ' s vivid description of dead weeds. : was illumined. You might state that it was only the won- Professor Halsey was exceedingly derful character of the man that enabled patient with his students; he would always: ' : us to bear out this course. His humorous permit them to talk themselves deep into anecdotes .punctuated the hour with laugh- : a hole before taking away the shovel, iet ter. Another cause for hilarity was the it be said that Halsey always scn ogged student pronunciation of botanical sources, evenly; certainly his droll humor made for Linne notwithstanding, Schwalb ' s Snaker- . enjoyable lectures. His standihg-rqom-only root completely broke down the last conferences iiv the halls were an indication vestige of classroom decorum. of the roan ' s; popularity. Above all, let us In addition to the crude drugs, a study humbly record here that his modern teach- of the significant parts of plant life was rug methods- Were, ol the: highest quality. made. This enabled us to identify the van ■ As juniors we again came under the ous powdered drugs microscopically. Mr. tutelage of The Good Doctor. This time Wong rendered yeoman service in this field, it was for physiology. The first few weeks for I am certain that many of us would still seemed like zoology all over again. We be looking for stone cells as bricks in the labored over the drawings and howled at palisade. the grades as usual. By now, the sight The college curriculum dictated that of THE MAN with the umbrella in his hand the subject of bacteriology was to be a was not new to us, so we were not irritated treat worthy of senior attention exclusively, as much anymore. Here was a course to look forward to. It With the preliminaries disposed of, was under the supervision of Professor Prof. Halsey brought forth the kymograph. Fancheon Hart, who, we understood, had Here was an instrument that could repro- been teaching at Columbia for a number duce graphically even the slightest of mus- of years. Her capabilities were not to be cular reactions. We were divided into teams dismissed lightly. Miss Hart ' s phenomenal of four, each group consisting of a drum- knack of lecturing coherently, sans notes, smoker, frog-pither, electrician, and a pro- and those supplementary assignments were curer. The latter was the captain, of course, really stimulating. The periodic examina- since he actually went out and procured tions and random laboratory conferences the results that were recorded. The number were testimony to her proven methods of of frogs expended on our behalf increased instruction as the weeks passed on. With four years of biology impregnated Resounding above the noise of crump- upon our brains, we were now prepared to ling bags in Pharmacognosy, was Professor practice pharmacy intelligently. — A. R. G.