243 North ¥INDSI G H1J--!:a Uru~:C:1;;• •: Newsletter of the ~ : Optometric Historical Society! MAR 1 Q 199fl • Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, Mis~uri 6314~, U~A ! '\ lL . · . APR 0 3 1996 e · Librarv • JULY 1995 "'• • ~ • • "(I~> :Wytfpber .. i~ \1): Volume 26 21 points and Sheard: On pages 60-61 of the October 1986 issue of this newsletter, vol. 17, no. 4, the challenge was made to ascertain the historical details of the "21 points" of the Optometric Extension Program. The first response carne in 1992, six years later, from George G. Litsinger, O.D. He reminds us that Charles Sheard was the first to identify certain optometric tests by numbers and that these were subsequently revised a bit by A.M. Skeffington into the O.E.P. 21 points. Litsinger cites a 1917 publication entitled Dynamic Ocular Tests by Charles Sheard, Ph.D., published by the Lawrence Press Co., Columbus, Ohio, which was later reprinted on pages 41-121 of the Sheard Volume published by Chilton Company, Philadelphia, in 1957. Indeed, on page 43 of the latter, there is an "Outline of the Routine" of a recommended clinical optometric procedure in steps numbered from one to 18. There is clearly a similarity of sequence with that of the traditional O.E.P. 21 points. On the other hand there are also substantial differences of identity and description. Of possible significance is the fact that in the 80 pages of discussion of the various tests Sheard refers to none of them by number, thus suggesting that the numbers were purely a matter of tabulation rather than nomenclature. Inasmuch as Sheard himself was not formally trained as an optometrist, and therefore leaned heavily on the tutoring and advice of local optometrists such as John C. Eberhardt, he may well have developed the sequence as a lesson plan for classroom purposes. In other words there must already have evolved among the more progressive optometrists a fairly common pattern of testing which both Sheard and Skeffington may have adapted to their teaching needs quite independently. This interpretation is further born out on pages 220-221 of the same 1957 volume in which is illustrated a sample of a record card of Sheard's own design dated 1919 in which a series of 13 clinical tests are sequentially numbered at some variance from his 1917 list. Further, in his discussions he describes various clinical cases with numbered data entries often at sequential variance with either previously outlined routine. In the early '30s Sheard published several papers which included a clinical routine of 20 numbers with several alphabetically ordered sub-tests quite closely resembling the O.E.P. 21 points, which, by then, had been well popularized by Skeffington. Sheard's 20 points are in the 1957 Sheard Volume, pp. 26/18 · .. •· 'I 233-266. O.E.P. authors S.K. Lesser and A.M. Skeffington of 1'21' point" authority are both in the chapter's reference list! H.W H. The Hirschberg series: Part 1-b and Part 1-c of Vol. XI are two of 15 separately bound books in Julius Hirschberg's History of Ophthalmology series translated by Frederick C. Blodi, M.D. Altogether they are numbered I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIIIa, VIIIb, IX, X, XI Part 1-a, XI Part 1-b, XI Part 1-c, and XI Part 2. With this present commentary on the two last-received tomes, all 15 books will have been mentioned in Hindsight or its predecessor newsletter in terms of their contributions to optometric history. · Parts 1-b and 1-c of Vol. XI continue with the "Reform of Ophthalmology" theme of Part 1-a which Hirschberg had identified with the leadership and era of Helmholt·z, Donders, and Albrecht von Graefe. Parts 1-b and 1-c include 15 additional contributors to the reform, none of whom may be considered as having made a strong impact on optometric development. Among the dozens and dozens, if not several hundred, other second-half nineteenth century European physicians participating in the reformed emergence of ophthalmology are a few names incidentally identified with physiological optics such as E. Hering, Albrecht Nagel, Edmund Landolt, and E. Javal. A brief one page biographical note is devoted to Ferdinand CUignet {1823-1890) for the discovery of the retinoscopic principle. In his final comments Hirschberg lists and describes the roles of eight last-quarter nineteenth century developments that contributed to ophthalmology's "Period of Reform." Number IV of these is "Diagnostic methods have been further developed, especially the objective determination of refractive errors" {referring to retinoscopy and ophthalmometry) . The other seven were improvement of general surgical techniques, the establishment of bacteriological science, advances in the area of anatomy and physiology of the visual system, improved microscopy, advances in the surgical aspects of asepsis and local anesthesia, improvements of medical treatment, and the evolvement of general hygienic and prophylactic practices. " While the Hirschberg series is clearly not a history of optometry it illustrates many parallels of involvement of the world at large while pointing up pronounced differences not obvious in casual observance. H.W H. Behavioral optomet:r:y publications: The term behavioral optomet:r:y seems to have emerged into fairly common use in recent decades, long enough to justify 26/19 publication of a historical perspective by Martin B. Birnbaum in the April 1994 issue of the Journal of the American Optometric Association, vol. 65, no. 4, pp. 255-264, with 125 references. He identifies two major schools or approaches to behavioral optometry, one, the physiologically based or more traditional patterns, and the other, which emphasizes the influence of environment and visually related experience. He does not make clear what constitutes "nonbehavioral" optometry, nor does he use that term in the article. The numerous optometric procedures and functions described as examples of each of the two "schools or approaches", however, do not include any medicinal or pharmaceutical services. Neither does he include in his bibliography any reference to such medically oriented services by optometrists. This suggests that the latter may be the "nonbehavioral" optometrists. The author identifies A.M. Skeffington as the "father of behavioral optometry" and describes as well the historic roles of several others whose names are associated with the Optometric Extension Program Foundation. An optometrist who was recognized as an influential "thinker and innovator" in this concept was the late Lawrence W. Macdonald, O.D. (1928-1979). His collected works have now been compiled and edited by Ira Schwartz, O.D., in two volumes available from the OEP Foundation, 2912 South Daimler, Santa Ana, CA 92705, at $18 each. Brewster in Forbes: OHS member Neal Bailey called our attention to a feature in the December 7, 1992, issue of Forbes magazine, pp. 232 and 234, entitled "A rather strange object" by Manjeet Kripalani. It describes the scientific toy which was invented by Sir David Brewster in the early 1800s, the kaleidoscope, and which continues to exert its charms. Illustrated in color are several kaleidoscopic patterns and several kaleidoscopes that have attained great value as collector's items. "In 1990 Erik Van Cort, one of America's finest contemporary kaleidoscope makers, and himself a collector," offered $55,000 for one made by W. Leigh Newton circa 1830, but the owner held firm at· $75,000. The world's leading collector of kaleidoscopes is Cozy Baker of Bethesda, Maryland, nearly a thousand. However, she confides, "I never pay more than $10, 000 for any kaleidoscope." In the margin of the tear sheet Dr. Bailey penned in, "I rarely do, either." Ocular Heritage Society: The O.H.S. Newsletter for June 1993 includes the minutes of the annual meeting on April 15-18 in Mexico City, a current list of 26/20 members, and photocopies of six of the papers delivered at the historical sessions, as follows: Martin B. Singer, Vision Aids: The History of the Optical Professions and Industry. J. Wm. Rosenthal, Ancient Chinese Eyeglass Cases. James Leeds, Milton's Blindness and Eleanor G. Brown. J.J. Abrams, Monroe B. Levoy-optician. W.H. Marshall, The Auto Doctor. John w. Tull, A Survey of Spectacle Cases. At the 1994 annual meeting of the "other" O.H.S. held April 21-23 in Bloomington, Indiana, the following participants gave talks and presented historical papers that are now available from the society archives: John W. Tull, Joseph L. Bruneni, Gordon G. Heath, J. William Rosenthal, Jay M. Galst, and Henry W Hofstetter. Tull reported on the life of Charles Stanhope (1753-1816) and his invention of the "Stanhope Lens", a small but very powerful magnifying lens that came into popular use for well over a century. Bruneni reviewed the origins and development of optical laboratories in America. Heath gave an account of the recent emergence of the Irlen method for the treatment of dyslexia together with an analysis of the claims made for it. Rosenthal described the design, circumstances, and uses of small lorgnettes or telescopes quite inconspicuously constructed in ladies' fans in the 1700's. Galst' s paper on "Optician's tokens Hoosier and elsewhere" provided an early history dating from their appearance in 17th century Great Britain to a significant number in Indiana even in recent decades. Hofstetter reported on a recent translation of a classic Greek document on 4th-century visual science as authored by Heliodorus. The knowledge of vision is presented in terms of 14 points which, among other concepts, make it clear that vision was believed to be accomplished by the projection of rays from the eye to the subject viewed. From the O.A.I.C.C.: From the April 1993 Ophthalmic Antigyes International Collectors Club Newsletter, no. 43, we learn that Pierre Marly's museum of 3000 optical items has been moved to a floor above street level at his new premises at 380 rue Saint Honore, Paris, exactly midway between the Rue Royale and the Place Vendome. The nearest Metro stations are Tuileries, Madeleine, and Concorde. 26/21 In the same issue Colin B. Fryer gives an historical account of the Order of Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, which was established in 1099 A.D. and still exists. It was one of the most important developments of the Crusades (1096-1291 A.D.). Early in the 14th century the Order introduced the newly invented spectacles for scribes with "old aged sight." Fryer describes the spectacles of that era. An article by editor R.J.S. MacGregor describes the making of whalebone spectacles. On page 7 is a translation by Valerie Mellor of a 1746 list of optical merchandise available at THE BURNING MIRROR, which lay between St. Benoit's Fountain and Dr. Plessis' School in the Rue St. Jacques, Paris. The owner, Monsieur Thoman, was the author of a 1746 booklet entitled INSTRUCTION SUR L'USAGE DES LUNETTES OU CONSERVES, POUR TOUTES SORTES DE VUES, Paris. The booklet is in Marly's museum. Another O.A.I.C.C. newsletter: The July 1993· issue of the Ophthalmic Antiques International Collectors Club Newsletter, issue number 44, again includes several tidbits of information of historical optometric interest. One is that there are now three major museums of spectacles in the Belluno region in the north of Italy. The new one is in the headquarters of the Safilo Group at Pieve di Cadore. Another item is the information that OHS member Charles Letocha is conducting a survey of the eye sizes of leather spectacles. So far, in 19 specimens, he finds an average diameter of 32 mm. If you have any leather spectacles send the dimensions to him at 444 Rathton Road, York, Pennsylvania 17403, U.S.A. Her Majesty the Queen arrived at The Commonwealth Institute in London on 11 May, 1993, without her spectacles. Her seven-page speech was kindly read by Prince Philip. This made front-page news in the U.K. Editor Ronald MacGregor provides an interesting account of the 29 May to 2 June, 1993, excursion of six club members from London to Hannover, Wienhausen, Rathenow, Jena, and Magdeburg, Germany, visiting ophthalmic museums at every stopover. On pages 5-9 Spencer Sherman, M.D., gives a succinct history of the ophthalmoscope with illustrations of 12 models dating between Helmholtz's in 1851 and Juler' s in 1886 photocopied from "A History of the Ophthalmoscope" by C. Wilbur Rucker, 1971. Sherman gives earliest credit to Purkinje for the construction of an 1823 model which "went by the wayside," perhaps because "his dissertation was in Latin." No mention is made of Charles Babbage's invention. 26/22 Derek Davidson comments on the publicized ninetieth anniversary of the firm of Barry and Beale in New Zealand. The firm was established in 1902 by Samuel Barry in Auckland upon returning from training in the U.S.A. and England "fully qualified and experienced in both sight testing and workshop practice." He founded one of the first solely optometric practices in New zealand. He was joined by James Beale in 1905. They became well known as suppliers of "Far-Nears," a registered name for bifocals at that time. The annual club meeting was held at the British College of Optometrists on 23 May, 1993, with 27 present. The annual club auction of 38 lots totalled £1,113. An especially interesting part of the newsletter is an "incomplete" list of 92 current members, 57 in the U.K, nine in Germany, nine in the U.S.A., and the rest in 10 other countries. Upon being asked to check every "special interest" area from among 20 listed possibilities, 51 checked "spectacles," 19 checked "instruments," 12 checked "general optical," and 12 checked "eye baths." It is quite evident from these and the other choices that the members are largely collection oriented. Only one checked "documents" and eight checked "history." The other choices were all collectibles. It is indeed a collectors club. Jefferson's "spects": In an article entitled "Jefferson's reading spectacles" in the November/December 1989 issue of Atti Della Fondazione Giorgio Ronchi, Vol. 44, No. 6, pp. 1115-1122, Eric P. Muth describes the involvement of President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) with John McAllister, Sr., in the design of spectacles with lenses of very small vertical dimension for near work only. Reproduced correspondence between Jefferson and McAllister shows that at age 63 Jefferson requested first the reshaping of an oval eyewire frame into a horizontally oblong form. Finding the upper part of the eyewire a bit of a nuisance to peer over he then requested the Franklin bifocal design in very small lenses which McAllister found very difficult to fabricate. Muth credits Jefferson's idea, the "first oblong eyewire shape," as "the grandfather of half glasses," which he also calls "half eyes." In the Jefferson-McAllister correspondence the latter sometimes abbreviates spectacles as "spect" or "spects." Because the communication is entirely by mail the correspondence included considerable discussion of lens centering and interpupillary distance for near. At one point McAllister wrote, "Wishing to making them to please and recollecting the President has but a small head I wish them examined again." 26/23 A decade of legislative effort: At the Ninth Asian-Pacific Optometric Congress in Hong Kong, April 8-12, 1993, one of the papers delivered in Cantonese was that of Professor Joseph C.K. Lee, Ph.D., of the Hong Kong Polytechnic on the topic "Legislation of Optometry." I was completely unable to follow his verbal discourse except that at intervals he would spotlight the following printed chronology (in English) on the projection screen: 11 Jun 1984 First Meeting Advisory Committee on Optometry Definitions 8 Nov 1984 The purpose of defining an optometrist in the Ordinance is merely to ensure that those who practise that profession shall be under an obligation to be registered. 25 Apr 1985 Postal survey conducted by M&HD Qualifications for entry Categories of optometrists Provisional registration Assessment and Examination 7 Apr 1986 12th Meeting Advisory Committee on Optometry 17 Oct 1986 First Meeting Optometrists Board Code of Practice Regulations Disciplinary action Use of drugs 29 Apr 1988 Drugs Evaluation Committee 30 Jul1991 Code of Practice completed Regulations 12 Feb 1993 21st Meeting of the Optometrists Board H.W H. 26/24 Oh say. can they see? This is the caption of what seems to be a well researched article on the optometric needs and corrections sustained by many of America's presidents. It appeared on page 7 of the November 1, 1992, issue of AOA News, Vol. 31, No. 9, as a reprinting of a slightly revised 1976 AOA news release. Recommended books: Two books that have been mentioned in past issues of Hindsight are very favorably reviewed by OHS member E.J. Fisher on page 913 of the November 1992 issue of Optometry and Vision Science. Their titles are "Restoring Ophthalmic Antiques" (1990) and "Collecting Ophthalmic Antiques" (1992) . Both are authored by Ronald J. S. MacGregor and published by The Ophthalmic Antiques International Collectors Club. Honorary member deceased: The April 1994 issue of Ophthalmic Antiques, no. 47, p. 2, reports the death of Margaret Mitchell, M.A., on December 26, 1993. She had been librarian of the British Optical Association from 1928 until 1977, and had been an outstanding and genuinely interested resource on ophthalmic history. She served in numerous editorial and consultatory roles. In May of 1970 she was made an honorary member of the Optometric Historical Society. Editor: Managing Editor: Contributing Editor: *** Douglas K. Penisten College of Optometry Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK 74464 USA David A. Goss School of Optometry Indiana University Bloomington, IN 47405 USA Henry W Hofstetter 1050 Sassafras Circle Bloomington, IN 47401 USA 1995-26-03-001 1995-26-03-002 1995-26-03-003 1995-26-03-004 1995-26-03-005 1995-26-03-006 1995-26-03-007 1995-26-03-008