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Student Assistants
834
EDITORIALS
we believe, too much irresponsible and unscientific experimentation (mostly perpetrated abroad) in the past, and too little attention paid to the regular continuous clinical study of human ophthalmic cases in public and private practice. The objection to the mass of evidence presented to us in reports, especially of lower animal bacteriology and pharmacognosy, is not entirely that it is inhumane but that it is also incompetent, inadequate, and, therefore, unscientific. The results may be as stated, but since only careful and prolonged observations made by trained and competent observers of human and anthropoid animals can remove the doubt and clarify the obscurity, why meantime, worry the eyes and nervous system of the dog, the guinea pig, the rat, et hoc genus omne? When, as now proposed, an investigation of eye problems is made on our Simian relatives, the same consideration should be shown as one would exhibit towards a man, a woman or a child. Indeed only properly trained teachers should be permitted to utilize for these purposes such an intelligent, nervous and highstrung animal as a monkey. In any event, however, we hesitate to believe it possible that any American, however thoughtless or enthusiastic, would be likely to emulate the exploits of our Heidelberger Gesellschaft colleague even to demonstrate the etiology of myopia in apes. Investigations properly conducted along the lines and in the direction just indicated would have a real value in ophthalmology, and when actuated by adequate motives and surrounded by proper precautions would have the approbation of every well wisher of our specialty. C. A. W. S T U D E N T ASSISTANTS The apprenticeship method has been the forerunner of effective schools in many lines of technical teaching. In the past the best way to get an education in ophthalmology in America was to become an office assistant to one of certain good teachers of ophthal-
mology. Notable among such teachers were Elkanah Williams of Cincinnati, and John Green of St. Louis. To be a student of one of these men was almost a guarantee of professional success. Many of these teachers are still living, and their number is increasing. It must be admitted that among those who take office assistants are some who are more intent on extending their practice, beyond the limits of what one man can attend to, than upon becoming efficient teachers of another generation of ophthalmologists. Still to assist one of these men gives a large clinical experience. Reading up the conditions seen and careful methods of work, will give the student the mastery of ophthalmology that he desires, while improving the service he gives to his chief. It is often difficult for the would-be student assistant to get in touch with the older man who could utilize his services and give the needed instruction ; and the busy practitioner who needs an assistant sometimes has great difficulty in finding the one he needs. The best way to indicate needs of this kind has been to place an advertise ment in the Journal of the A. M. A., but this could generally carry little information regarding the qualifications possessed by an applicant or those expected of an assistant. Within the past three months we have had letters from four ophthalmologists appealing to their personal friends to find the kind of assistant they needed; and in the same time we have heard from about double that number of doctors who wished to prepare for ophthalmic practice by service in the office of an ophthalmologist. Unfortunately • in most cases the applicants did not fit the particular places offered. If a larger number of such places and a larger number of applicants could be brought together, doubtless a larger proportion of the seekers would be satisfied. The plan of individual applications does not lend itself to a full statement
EDITORIALS
of needs, opportunities, and qualifications. W e believe the interests of the oculists of the country would be better served by forming a register of applicants of both kinds, and by comparison of those for help, with those who offer service, there would be a better chance of securing a permanently profitable arrangement for both parties. Such a plan is now being worked out and put in operation. From subscribers to the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF O P H T H A L MOLOGY the applications will be received
and acted on without charge. To others there will be charged a small fee for registration. It is not likely that all requests can at once be met with satisfactory assistants or positions; but we believe that this plan offers one more way in which this journal can be of real help to the profession. E. J. BOOK NOTICES Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat.
CASEY
A.
WOOD, M. D , D. C. L. Albert H. An-
drews, M. D., and George E. Shambaugh, M. D. Practical Medicine Series, 1919, Volume I I I , 12 mo., 384 pages. Illustrated. . Chicago. The Yearbook Publishers. The portion of this volume relating to the eye is edited by Dr. Wood, and comprises 180 pages, including about as much matter as one issue of this journal. It is evident that careful selection of the matter to be included in such a work is of the highest importance, and for this its editor is especially competent. To confine the list of topics to those really important, and treat of them with sufficient fullness to make the book really interesting and valuable is a task requiring the abilities of the veteran editor, and compiler of a great encyclopedia. It has been well performed. The text is liberally illustrated, including several plates, one of them in colors, that have been used in this journal. Altho the material for this section has been found in journals published in many languages, most of it
835
is drawn from publications in English. This is at it should be, and reflects the large proportion of the literature of ophthalmology that is now appearingin English. Our readers will recognize many things of which they have read in these pages; but it is a work that can safely be recommended to those not familiar with the general literature of ophthalmology. It is well written and printed, and its size makes it convenient to carry in the coat pocket.
E. J. .
Ophthalmological Society of Egypt. Bulletin of 1919, 146 pages. This bulletin contains the sixteen papers read at the annual meeting of the Society, March 7th, 1919, with the discussions they elicited. Of these papers, five deal with various forms of conjunctivitis, and their effects, four take up various aspects of glaucoma and the Elliot trephining. The otherconsider sympathetic ophthalmia, autoserum in ocular therapeutics, infected corneal ulcer, a case of congenital defect of vision, and other subjects. These papers are comparatively brief, practical and interesting. Some of them are illustrated by charts, and contain important tables. All but two are in English and these in French. Arabic has been used only in the inscription. This Society, founded in 1902, now numbers 71 members. A list of these with the officers, and the business-like minutes of the annual meeting are included in the Bulletin. The absence of a table of contents or good index detracts from its value as a work of reference. E. J. Transactions of the Section on Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association, Annual Session, June 9 to 13, 1919. 8vo., 419 pages. Illustrated, Chicago, A. M. A. The twenty-one scientific papers contained in this volume have been or will be published in the JOURNAL of the American Medical Association, or in the
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF O P H T H A L -
EDITORIALS
we believe, too much irresponsible and unscientific experimentation (mostly perpetrated abroad) in the past, and too little attention paid to the regular continuous clinical study of human ophthalmic cases in public and private practice. The objection to the mass of evidence presented to us in reports, especially of lower animal bacteriology and pharmacognosy, is not entirely that it is inhumane but that it is also incompetent, inadequate, and, therefore, unscientific. The results may be as stated, but since only careful and prolonged observations made by trained and competent observers of human and anthropoid animals can remove the doubt and clarify the obscurity, why meantime, worry the eyes and nervous system of the dog, the guinea pig, the rat, et hoc genus omne? When, as now proposed, an investigation of eye problems is made on our Simian relatives, the same consideration should be shown as one would exhibit towards a man, a woman or a child. Indeed only properly trained teachers should be permitted to utilize for these purposes such an intelligent, nervous and highstrung animal as a monkey. In any event, however, we hesitate to believe it possible that any American, however thoughtless or enthusiastic, would be likely to emulate the exploits of our Heidelberger Gesellschaft colleague even to demonstrate the etiology of myopia in apes. Investigations properly conducted along the lines and in the direction just indicated would have a real value in ophthalmology, and when actuated by adequate motives and surrounded by proper precautions would have the approbation of every well wisher of our specialty. C. A. W. S T U D E N T ASSISTANTS The apprenticeship method has been the forerunner of effective schools in many lines of technical teaching. In the past the best way to get an education in ophthalmology in America was to become an office assistant to one of certain good teachers of ophthal-
mology. Notable among such teachers were Elkanah Williams of Cincinnati, and John Green of St. Louis. To be a student of one of these men was almost a guarantee of professional success. Many of these teachers are still living, and their number is increasing. It must be admitted that among those who take office assistants are some who are more intent on extending their practice, beyond the limits of what one man can attend to, than upon becoming efficient teachers of another generation of ophthalmologists. Still to assist one of these men gives a large clinical experience. Reading up the conditions seen and careful methods of work, will give the student the mastery of ophthalmology that he desires, while improving the service he gives to his chief. It is often difficult for the would-be student assistant to get in touch with the older man who could utilize his services and give the needed instruction ; and the busy practitioner who needs an assistant sometimes has great difficulty in finding the one he needs. The best way to indicate needs of this kind has been to place an advertise ment in the Journal of the A. M. A., but this could generally carry little information regarding the qualifications possessed by an applicant or those expected of an assistant. Within the past three months we have had letters from four ophthalmologists appealing to their personal friends to find the kind of assistant they needed; and in the same time we have heard from about double that number of doctors who wished to prepare for ophthalmic practice by service in the office of an ophthalmologist. Unfortunately • in most cases the applicants did not fit the particular places offered. If a larger number of such places and a larger number of applicants could be brought together, doubtless a larger proportion of the seekers would be satisfied. The plan of individual applications does not lend itself to a full statement
EDITORIALS
of needs, opportunities, and qualifications. W e believe the interests of the oculists of the country would be better served by forming a register of applicants of both kinds, and by comparison of those for help, with those who offer service, there would be a better chance of securing a permanently profitable arrangement for both parties. Such a plan is now being worked out and put in operation. From subscribers to the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF O P H T H A L MOLOGY the applications will be received
and acted on without charge. To others there will be charged a small fee for registration. It is not likely that all requests can at once be met with satisfactory assistants or positions; but we believe that this plan offers one more way in which this journal can be of real help to the profession. E. J. BOOK NOTICES Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat.
CASEY
A.
WOOD, M. D , D. C. L. Albert H. An-
drews, M. D., and George E. Shambaugh, M. D. Practical Medicine Series, 1919, Volume I I I , 12 mo., 384 pages. Illustrated. . Chicago. The Yearbook Publishers. The portion of this volume relating to the eye is edited by Dr. Wood, and comprises 180 pages, including about as much matter as one issue of this journal. It is evident that careful selection of the matter to be included in such a work is of the highest importance, and for this its editor is especially competent. To confine the list of topics to those really important, and treat of them with sufficient fullness to make the book really interesting and valuable is a task requiring the abilities of the veteran editor, and compiler of a great encyclopedia. It has been well performed. The text is liberally illustrated, including several plates, one of them in colors, that have been used in this journal. Altho the material for this section has been found in journals published in many languages, most of it
835
is drawn from publications in English. This is at it should be, and reflects the large proportion of the literature of ophthalmology that is now appearingin English. Our readers will recognize many things of which they have read in these pages; but it is a work that can safely be recommended to those not familiar with the general literature of ophthalmology. It is well written and printed, and its size makes it convenient to carry in the coat pocket.
E. J. .
Ophthalmological Society of Egypt. Bulletin of 1919, 146 pages. This bulletin contains the sixteen papers read at the annual meeting of the Society, March 7th, 1919, with the discussions they elicited. Of these papers, five deal with various forms of conjunctivitis, and their effects, four take up various aspects of glaucoma and the Elliot trephining. The otherconsider sympathetic ophthalmia, autoserum in ocular therapeutics, infected corneal ulcer, a case of congenital defect of vision, and other subjects. These papers are comparatively brief, practical and interesting. Some of them are illustrated by charts, and contain important tables. All but two are in English and these in French. Arabic has been used only in the inscription. This Society, founded in 1902, now numbers 71 members. A list of these with the officers, and the business-like minutes of the annual meeting are included in the Bulletin. The absence of a table of contents or good index detracts from its value as a work of reference. E. J. Transactions of the Section on Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association, Annual Session, June 9 to 13, 1919. 8vo., 419 pages. Illustrated, Chicago, A. M. A. The twenty-one scientific papers contained in this volume have been or will be published in the JOURNAL of the American Medical Association, or in the
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF O P H T H A L -