Temple University School of Dentistry - Odontolog Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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place, these seats being more remote from the Arena, were much more comfortable to sleep in, a fact very early recognized and appreciated. There was much to occupy our time and attention in this term. First, there was the upper story of the building to be explored, or that portion of it which was resigned to the occupancy of what are termed in Classical language “stiffs.” Here we were allowed—nay—very pressingly invited by Dr. Fritz, to spend several hours each day, and it was noticed, about this time, that some of our men were growing pale and nervous, due, it is said, to the fearful and awful nightmares, experienced by some of the more impressionable, as the result of their visit to this department. Then there was the Laboratory work to be attended to, and it is worthy of remark, that even thus early in our career, our achievements were great. A fair portion of each day was spent in “ drawing ” teeth—at a rough estimate, it may be said that a couple of thousand teeth were “drawn” in our Laboratory—a great number of them in a manner that can only be described as decidedly “ free-hand.” Nevertheless, out of this enormous number, it is undoubtedly a fact that not one was broken in the operation. This is certainly more than can be said of those extracted by the vain-glorious Senior Class, who, though they did 4

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Of course one of the first things to be done was to provide ourselves with Class Officers, to look after the interests, to organize, lead “Rushes,” and to raise funds to pay for broken black-boards, benches, etc., necessarily resulting from such affairs. With this object, then, a meeting was held and the following gentlemen chosen for the various positions :—for President, E. B. Newell, Vice-President, M. J. Brazill, Secretary, Miss M. L. Warren, and Treasurer, C. F. Wilbur. In our early days, such facetious remarks as “who blew out the gas,” and “ fresh,” were frequently to be heard, but the tone of scorn in which they were uttered, was destined to be very soon changed to one of marked respect. It was quite early in the term that some presumptuous J uniors dared to render themselves obnoxious in our Laboratory, and very soon the cry of “Juniors out,” resounded on all sides. In an instant all was commotion. The rest of the Junior Class very promptly answered the cries of their classmates for assistance, and for a short time the result of the fray appeared to be involved in some uncertainty, but our men, rising to the occasion, with a determination and vigor which has characterized their whole College career, made so fierce an onslaught, that very soon the intruding Juniors were forcibly ejected, carrying with them the remains of some of their more unfortunate men. From this time on, it was, that we were treated with the respect and consideration so evidently our due. Needless to say we enjoyed many privileges in our First year, such, for instance, as being permitted to occupy the more elevated seats in the back of the Lecture Room. This arrangement had many advantages : in the first place, Professor Boenning’s eager eye was much less likely to light on us, when he assiduously went through the Classes, vainly endeavoring to elicit a correct guess in answer to some knotty question in anatomy and surgery, and in the second 38

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not extract one half this number, broke a great many. Hut, too much space cannot be given to the various incidents of the Freshmen Year, frought though they were with many evidences of the wondrous quality of the Class. March drew near and as examination came close, the boys could be seen at all hours, most diligently consulting innumerable text books, in the endeavor to straighten out the phenomenon of tooth-development, to learn more of the nervous system of the star-fish, and reading with the greatest interest, the peculiarities of the habits, occupation and mode of life of the all important Staphylococcus, Pyogenes Aureus, Leptothrix Buccalis and others of this tribe. At last the examinations came on—needless to say they were very successfully negotiated and general rejoicing was everywhere evident. Now began the Spring Course, and as this is not a compulsory term, those of us who did not elect to remain, packed off, with all possible dispatch to other scenes. Of the Spring term and the Summer vacation there is nothing of importance to relate. The second stage in our advance began in October 1897, when we again assembled—this time as fully qualified Juniors. Again it became necessary to elect Class Officers, with the result that the following were chosen :—for President, H. G. Fischer ; Vice-President, S C. Frederick ; Secretary, A. VV. Walsh and Treasurer, Willing Vose. By the way, our Secretary this year was one who hails from the land of the Zulu, and if he is to be regarded as typical of the residents of that locality, it is a matter of much regret that some gigantic upheaval of nature does not occur, which shall forever obliterate that tract of country, for anything more fiendish than the expression of his countenance can hardly be imagined, when sadly questioned by some wearied classmate as to,“who lectures next,” he would reply with awful glee, “what does it matter—you have to attend every lecture every day. (There were about 19 lectures and clinics each day except Saturday, when there were only about 17.) Besides, this same gentleman, at a later stage nominated the importunate Class Historian—another reason for wishing him some condign fate. Now began the hardest year of our Course and if there be anyone who wishes to know what life in a Junior Year is like, it may as well be stated at once, that it must be endured before it can be realized. Indeed, life this term appeared to consist in a daily round of lectures and clinics, and no one, who has not tried the experiment can realize how hard wood can become. To anyone interested in the matter, we would suggest the experiment of sitting on a wooden bench for numberless hours each day for a period of seven months listening to lectures, and the knowledge thus gained will be vividly impressed on 42