New England College of Optometry - Scope Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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THE SCOPE PI OMICRON SIGMA FRATERNITY OFFICERS Prerident-Melvin B. Dunbar Vive-Preridezzf-Deane A. Hilliard Serre1fa1'y-Jack Asarkolf T7'Ed5Zl7'6I'-AfHOld E. Wordell PI OMICRON SIGMA Running thru the archives of P. O. S. we find that under the able guidance of the above officers, a very successful year has been enjoyed. V Some of the many activities enjoyed were the opening get together smoker, the initiation, theatre parties, the two successful dances, the bowling matches, not forget- ting to mention the wonderful educational lectures and smokers. Among the many business accomplishments were the introduction of certificates of alhliarion and the production of fraternity keys and banners. The Officers elected for the year 1931-32 are: Pres.-Foster Namiasg V. Pres.-joseph Montminyg Sec.-jack Asarkoffg Treas- Solomon Lestch. U41

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THE SCOPE Junior Editorial Edward Bradley, '3O. On September 17, 1930, twenty-six new students entered the portals of our school. Some had worked at the manufacturing end of the business for various periods of time, but the majority were entering an entirely new field of endeavor. We knew that it dealt with the refraction of the eye and the improvement of ocular comfort by the prescription of lenses, but we were quite unprepared for the seemingly maze of intricacies which were presented for our edification those first few months. lt fairly took our breath away and left our previous sophisticated physiogs with a starry-eyed, bewildered look. It had us checking up on our mental resources and weighing them in the balance. XVe were literally down but far from being out. We lost but one student, a late comer, who sub- sided to the thought that the wall of scholastic knowledge set up was insurmountable. Many others may have been entertaining thoughts which were running in parallel chan- nels. By the time the Christmas holidays drew near we were beginning to fraternize and solidify into the unit which is destined to be one of the best ever graduated from the M. S. O.-the Class of 1932. School spirit and a desire for co-operation were being injected into and readily accepted by this unit. So that, when the Class of 1932 presented its first social function, a Christmas party to the faculty and members of the senior class, it far surpassed any such offering sponsored by our predecessors. X5Ue hope that this spirit flourishes and grows thru the remainder of our academic life. The junior class has been very much in evidence in every school activity and is justly proud of its meagre accomplishments. It is hoped that the coming year will mark the beginning of a new era in the growth of this fine old school of ours in the development of school spirit and the class of 1932 hereby pledges its support to old traditions and the furtherance of student activities. We are very much indebted to those members of the Faculty for the trials we sub- jected them to while presenting their phase of the study and for their conscientious ef- forts and personal co-operation in clearing dubious passages. XVe hereby take this oppor- tunity of extending our most sincere thanks to each and every one for placing us on the threshold of that new and wonderful work-the study of Optometry. We hope that during the ensuing year we may be able to absorb enough of the subject matter, so that our humble contribution to human society in our chosen profession will reflect due credit upon those who have given so freely of time and energy in preparing us for that work. The class oiiicers, namely, W. C. Pride, President, R. W. Baker, Vice-President, T. H. Couch, Secretary, and F. Namias, Treasurer, are to be highly complimented for the execution of their respective duties. They have been largely instrumental in the suca cess of the Class of 1932. E153

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THE SCOPE What lls Optometry Arnold E. U 0rdell, '31. It is not within the scope of this paper to tell much in regard to what the profession of Optometry really is. But a brief idea covering the highlights will be a comparatively short task. Little is known about this subject by the average individual. Some think the pro- fession to be a sort of trade to which the student serves apprenticeship as is done in a trade school, others, who hold a higher opinion of the profession think that the Optom- etrist is the individual who can treat diseased conditions of the eye. These two ideas are entirely wrong in every respect. Optometry is not a branch of Medicine but a separate calling and has a prior right because it did the refraction long before medicine undertook this work. lr has been clearly proven that medical men were taught to do this work by optometrists, then known as refracting opticians. When a physician examines eyes for the purpose of prescribing glasses, he is for the time being engaged in the practice of Optometry and not the prac- tice of medicine. The word Optometry comes from the Greek opto. meaning eye, and metro to measure. It is pronounced op-tom'-e-try. Optometry then is the science which deals with the measure of the eye, and the practitioner is called an op-tom'-e-trist. Optometry was known as far back as the year 1000 altho it did not go by that name. It is supposed that the Chinese made use of glasses many years before they were used on the European Continent. Glass was known even before this time and was hrst put to use as mirrors which were used exclusively by the wealthy. Among the lirst forms of lenses were those made of quartz, which were cut, ground and polished by hand. As years passed by there were an increasing number of tools being made which made it quite easy to put out larger quantities of these lenses. They were used chiefly to aid the older people in reading. lt should be known that at this time there were no Op- tometrists to prescribe these lenses and also no schools nor colleges at which anything could be learned in regard to measuring the refraction of the human eye. The lenses were sold over the counter by jewelers, who found it quite a problem to satisfy their trade. At the present time this condition does not exist. One reason for this is that there are a number of recognized schools and colleges who have this subject on their curri- culum. Secondly, all persons who lawfully refract eyes are required to pass a State Board of Examination. This is the one way by which improper individuals can be elim- inated from practice. Optometry is based on the principles of mathematics and physics. It is thus seen that the measurement of the eye as well as the manufacture of correcting lenses, is some- what of a mathematical procedure. Besides the study of mathematics and physics, Op- tometry consists of the study of human anatomy and physiology, all of which hold an important place in the practice of this science. Variety and fascination are found in this work, as well as joy which comes when relieving patients of pain and distress. No better statement can be made in regard to the service which Optometry renders than the following: The service which Optometry offers, is not a selhsh service, but one of the greatest benefit to humanity. lt has been truthfully said that 8592 of all knowledge comes thru nu