Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery - Dental Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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Class of 1962 Yes, this is the last in a series of four class histories. Blood, saliva, sticky wax, and Duco cement could just about sum it up. It all began about four years ago, when forty freshmen in their immaculate white starched jackets found seats in Amphi- theater A anticipating an Embryology lecture. As the lecturer began introducing Medical Biometry, forty students in forty white jackets rose and headed for the exits, only to reappear some twenty minutes later, reassured but not convinced of the value of Medical Biometry in the First Year curriculum. From Amphitheater A it was upstairs to the No Visitors lab. Here, when not attending class meetings, doing Biometry problems, putting a dime in the time pool, or attending lectures which all seemed to begin with the same slide (the one with the crack down the middle and the chipped corner), one some- how managed to get in a little dissection on the root of the lung, if the tags did not get in the way. We had come to see and, indeed, we saw. The technique courses were anxiously being awaited and soon came upon us. Having no idea of what to look for, we began digging in our spacious lockers for a conesocket knife, a box of wax, and a Boley gauge. The latter was not used again until Senior year when it was to share the spotlight with a steth- oscope, but more about that later. 20 When the pace became a little too hectic the boys usually headed for the Student Lounge for a little relaxation, but invariably found a lounge class in session. However, Dental Materials, Part I, soon began and need for a lounge decreased in direct proportion to the length of the lecture, the distance from the blackboard, and the concentration of tin in the amal- gam. Dental Materials was the course in which we were to ma- jor for the next two years. Here, sitting on wide or narrow bot- tomed chairs one became enlightened about dental materials, surrounded by apparently very impressive, top-secret, classified equipment which was always kept under wraps. Even the tele- phone was kept in a secret drawer. It was Dental Materials and the History of Dentistry which were to give us one of our class mottos, Pierre Fauchard says, ' Use a THICK MIX ' , (yes, even when using scopolamine).

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This is a stick-up? . . . Oh, you ' re kidding! m Relieve it here, here, here, . . . and there. You say the patient swallowed the bridge and it hasn ' t been paid for yet. Hmm. There I was, doing the twist . Who said you couldn ' t do it yourself? 19

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Still waiting for Embryology to begin, we launched into Genetics and related topics. Histology came to an end and the boys bade sad farewell to their favorite histology instructor . Oral Histology was soon to take her place (sigh) but this turned out to be a labelling contest, the prize going to the one having labelled the most mitochondria and Golgi apparatus. However, it was here that we first learned of the pernicious and deleter- ious effects of schmutz . A word must (?) be said about Neuroanatomy. At alternate lectures we were amused by impersonations of afflicted subway riders and dazzled by that complex system which was rapidly being explained to us. How could we possibly assimilate, be held responsible for, or reproduce this information on demand? We couldn ' t, but we were, so we did. Our Biochemistry course was made pleasant as well as en- lightening by the efforts of Dr. Karshan and staff. We felt proud and fortunate to have received our instruction from that dis- tinguished teacher. That first year we began an activity that would be with us the rest of our lives — Operative Dentistry. As the first year drew to a close, about 10% could understand Silent Tom and 80% could not tell Roger and Elliot apart. Sophomore Year was to have two main highlights: Microbi- ology and Periodontology, the latter with our first live patients. We were to wait one more year for Pharmo, when we would have more time and would be under less pressure they told us. So the party began with Harry and Bert serving cream puffs decorated with Shigella, Salmonella, and flagella. We became unwilling foster parents to recalcitrant rabbits and an untold number of equally unwilling rats and mice. Those who broke culture tubes were subject to penalty, imprisonment, or both. To keep our zoological interests alive we played with cats, dogs, and turtles in physiology. A failing blood pressure due to a leaking femoral artery catheter was often maintained by a fast I. V. drip. We were told that when spun to the right, one staggers to the left, looks to the right, and vomits to both sides. In Psychiatry, we discovered that many dentists see psychia- trists, that thumbsucking is good, and found out what an anal character is and how to spot one. We also learned of an oc- cupational hazard — the D-Day Syndrome.