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

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at about the hour of five P. m. the electric lights should suddenly and mysteriously get out of order, all sorts of things of a nature calculated to be pleasing to Mr. Skinner might eventuate. But all the time of the Junior Year was not employed in matters so practical as plates, crown and bridge-work, etc., there was the Bacteriological Laboratory to be attended to and there again we distinguished ourselves. One man (it is needless to say he comes from the West) who understood that I )r. Bacon's pets were classed somewhere in the Animal Kingdom, and thinking that his assistance might be required in bringing them to order, came the first morning equipped with a most carefully prepared lasso, and great was his disgust, when on entering the mystic room nothing more wonderful than a microscope could anywhere be seen. He was subsequently heard to remark that Bacteriology was a lot of “-----rot” and that he failed to see the necessity for so carefully studying bodies so minute, and he even went further and said that he did not believe anyone could detect one from another and finally wound up by insinuating that he was prepared to make a sporting wager, to the effect that if the experiment were tried, he was willing to lay odds that their respective mothers could not distinguish the Streptococcus, Septopyaemieus from the Bacillus, Buccalis Maximus, or for that matter from the Micrococcus, Gingival Pyogenes. Theh too, we had to be introduced to the Chemical Laboratory and here again we shone—in fact some startling discoveries were here made, and it was noticed by Dr. Boom’s friends that he began to wear a rather dazed look about this time, due it is said, to the fact that the result of some of our efforts was to bring to light certain facts, hitherto unknown to the Scientific World. While, however, our Second Term had but half run its course, new and sad 46

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the mind—also if there should happen to be any such trifling irregularity in the surface of the bench as a stray nail-head, or something of that kind, it too will leave an indelible impression. During this year we were afforded an opportunity to display to a wondering and admiring world, our remarkable skill in such matters as the making of all forms of fearful and wonderful crowns and bridges, orthodontia appliances and depositing plates. Let it be whispered, however, in this connection, that a very small drop of oil, carefully rubbed on a cracked porcelain tooth has been found most effective in concealing the existence of the said crack, and also that soft-solder when gilded over is somewhat hard to detect from the more refractory silver-solder. It was a matter of much satisfaction too—to a large portion of the Class, that the light is apt to grow dim about the hour of five p. m., in the months of December and January—possibly this may help to account for the large number of plates, crowns, and bridges that were “shown up” about this hour. The idea worked well for a short time, but Prof. Guilford, sees as far as most men and probably a little farther through such devices, and when after a little while the genial Dean would remark, “yes, sir, come this way,” and cordially usher the anxious student into his sanctum and proceed to examine the work in question before an electric light of what seemed to the now quaking individual to be of about 23,000 candle-power, the amount of work shown up at this time of day was greatly reduced and thereafter the early morning was thought to be a much more suitable hour for such inspections. Before arriving at this conclusion, however, truth compels us to state that mysterious consultations were constantly in progress between certain members of the Class and Mr. Perry R. Skinner, our electric wizard. It has been hinted that various flattering proposals were laid before this gentlemen, in fact it has even been suggested that a definite proposal was made, to the effect, that if on a certain day to be fixed in advance. 45

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experiences were before us. Up to this time our Class had presented an unbroken front, but now for the first time deep sorrow and regret appeared in our midst. W e were all deeply grieved when the I land of Death claimed a victim in the person of our honored Treasurer, Mr. W illing Vose. The shock of so sudden a loss had not died away, when another classmate, Mr. F. J. Minnaman, was removed by the samestern Harvester. Fora long time the pathetic sight of those two empty seats with their sombre coverings of crape were a constant reminder of our lost and of the uncertainty of all things earthly, and it was long before the merciful hand of time soothed in some degree the regretful hearts of their classmates. It is sometimes hard for our finite minds to comprehend the wisdom of the infinite Ruler, but we may rest assured that such workings arc for the best. Let us then to-day, while so deeply regretting that these classmates cannot be present with us in our Class day exercises, feel assured that their lot is doubtless best Toward the end of the term a happy innovation was introduced into our College life in the shape of a Smoker when we entertained the graduating class. Modesty forbids us to enlarge upon the excellence of the affair, suffice it to say that the music was good, the refreshments equally so and apparently the cigars of the very best. Needless to say, the result of this new departure was most satisfactory to all concerned and the memory of that evening when class distinctions were obliterated and good fellowship reigned everywhere will ever be a pleasant one to every one there present. Such events as these though could not of course be permitted to interfere with the more serious work of the term and as that fateful month of March was again approaching it behooved us to prepare ourselves most fully for the dread ordeal before our several professors. The eventful day came at last and anxious faces were everywhere seen as the hour of examination drew near. First on the list, it will be remembered, came the examination in anatomy and surgery and if the faces wore an anxious look before the paper was given out it was soon changed to one of almost despair as the full realization of what was before us dawned on our minds. Hut a cool head is often of as much service on such an occasion as in other contingencies and though many a pillow supported an anxious and sleepless head that night, the state of affairs looked more hopeful in the light of the morning, and when the results came out at last great was the satisfaction as it was realized that things were not so bad after all. In due course followed the other examinations and it must be stated that everything 49