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

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CULTURE Our first year at Columbia was devoted largely to the study of cultural subjects. Upon seeing the senior class an impartial observer would be difficultly convinced of this. Nevertheless, it was time not com- pletely wasted by any means; for it was a pointed effort toward broadening the scope of pharmaceutical education. Contemporary Civilization stands fore- most in our reflections of the freshman year. For the sight of Fritz Stern perched atop a shakey table, enthusiastically lecturing about Machiavelli, Aristotle and other philosophical greats was something to behold. All this while Samson slumbered peacefully in the rear of the room. Doctor de Groot, our respected English instructor, presented a course in grammar and an enjoyable study of American Liter- ature. The experience gained in preparing a research paper for this course proved to be most valuable in our senior year when we were required to present seminar reports. We were led through a course in ele- mentary calculus and analytical geometry by THE Mr. Hoffman. He will be especially remembered by Curley Bousel, for upon the return of a quiz, George noticed the subtle comment: See Mr. Glick ' s paper

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Culminating the course was an indi- vidual problem in synthesis for each student. Information had to be dug out of the litera- ture, pieced together, and executed in the lab. It was then that we decided to bring our beds to school. Two chemists had to do work on protein hydrolysis. One was to start with hair and the other with meat. (Wonder what they did with her bones?) These projects provided experience in large scale syntheses which were designed to familiarize the student ■with industrial pro- cedures, inculcate in him the necessary confidence, and illustrate the practical application of their theoretical knowledge. The breakage fee was proportional to the magnitude of their work. Organic Chemistry, when it was presented, did much to sober our scientific outlook. For three years, the students oi phar- macy at the College had wondered when the seemingly independent courses of chem- istry would be entwined, and thereby justify the energy and time expended on them. They were repeatedly awa re that semester after semester one course at the College of Pharmacy took precedence over all others, namely, chemistry. In the senior year, however, they were rewarded. Phar- maceutical Chemistry was offered to them — a course encompassing three years of chemical background and a working knowl- edge of pharmacy. Professor Abraham Taub, a noted authority on the subject, taught the course. Mr. Call me Herb Lieberman ran the show. Both were genial and thoroughly competent. What ' s more, they conducted the session on a graduate level that pre- served the dignity of the student. You were an independent chemist, for a change. It must be said that the subject was a very interesting one. It provided an in- sight to industrial control techniques and standardization procedures, which al- though not of practical usage to a retail pharmacist, nevertheless served to supple- ment his knowledge. However, the course ' s curriculum, which required the completion of 28 unknowns, necessitated the mainten- ance of a crippling pace. The study sheets — eleven of them — were a burden for the students, a situation uncomprehendable by the Professor. Lastly, the final examination, fortunately marked on a curve, though a good quiz from the standpoint of its all- inclusive nature, was, from the standpoint of practicality, of dubious value. That being the end of our affair with chemistry, we breathed a sigh of relief. —A. R. and A. R.S.

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for corrections. However, his ability to hold the class ' attention, even against the com- petition proferred by a bathing maiden in a 69th St. apartment, bares testament to the high place he had attained in the class ' esteem. In fact, even now that he is gone, his name has been coined for his double. The next year brought another cultural course. This time it was Physics, our only uptown subject. The hidden switches, the complicated apparatus, the sparks, lights, noises ... all presented an awesome spect- acle as we gaped in wonder. The weekly quizes and the low distribution curve were both part of a most memorable year. Pro- fessor Farwell was the capable instructor of this class, although he is probably con- sidered in a different light by each student. Next we were belabored by No Con- tract Kravitz. This was a course in business law; but remembered most of all is the hopeless entanglement of the accounting sheets, and the numerous bouts with Coun- sellor Glick. Mr. Kravitz was a very able instructor. His pace was fast, but in the end we benefitted. Mr. Cantor, the 17th Street tycoon, came the following semester. He lectured on the establishment and management of a retail pharmacy. It is rumored that when a student accidently peered into his brief- case, he was stunned by the amount of physician ' s samples he carried. Last and least was Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence. This proved most valuable for those who needed an extra hour of slumber in the morning. Mr. Herzog treated the various statutes applying to pharmacy as well as the ethics of the profession. He concluded by inviting the entire senior class to his house — a gesture which was most appreciated. — D. B.