The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-28
A WORCESTER SERMON
LEADS TO THE DIS
CUSSEON OF OPTICS

A Worcester clergyman illustrated
an idea in the pulpit by referring to
radiometer seen in the window of
Mumford & Van Derburgh 4l6 Main
Street, and a Spy man, who had been
at church, went to learn about the
curiosity. The radiometer consists of
a little mill enclosed in a glass bulb
nearly exhausted Of air. Mr. Mum
ford explained that the little revolving
plates were made of mica and covered
with lamp black on one side. The
force of the suns rays striking on the
plates caused them to revolVe.
while I'm here" said The Spy man,
you might tell me something about
glasses and spectacles pro bono pub
lico."
Why certainly" replied Mr.. Mum
ford We first of all use this dark
room containing a skiascope for
determining the defects of the eye
whether latent of manifest. The opin-
thalmometer, or more correctly the
keratometer, then comes into use, and
lastly comes the subjective test. which
is an investigation of the patients own
feelings and experiences. These three
tests must agree. After this we make
use of the phorometer for measuring
muscular balance"
What are some of the eye troubles
that you remedy by the use Of glass
es 2"
We'll. there is myopia or short
sight. Strabismus or squirting. Hy
peropia or far-sight and astig matism.
which causes indistinctness of vision.
Then too, glasses are used alter an
operation for cataract has been per
formed. There are many other eye
troubles with long technical names
that would scarcely interest the pub
lie"
What are the names of the lenses
you prescribe for the different ailments
of the eye, Mr.. Mumford?"
For far-sight we call the lenses
plano-conveX, bi-conveX and cOncavO-
convex. For near-sight they are named
plano-cOncave, bi-concave and con-
veXo- concavo, but there are many
other varieties of lenses"
Il suppose you try to sell glasses to
everybody who comes in? said the Spy
man.
You are not very complimentary,
replied Mr. MumfOrd.
Why SOP"
mo first class optical establishment
ever sells glasses unless the buyer
actually needs them. To wear glasses
that are not demanded by defects of
vision is injurious. When we find that
patients cannot be benefited by glas-
es we tell them so, and when defects
of vision are caused by disease aye i'm
mediately refer them to a competent
physician"
Il suppose you charge big price for
the scientific mOdus operandi which
you pursue?"
ION the contrary" said Mr.. Mum
ford, I'VE charge only for the glasses.
We make an exhaustive diagnosis of
the eyes, write the prescription. and
execute it ourselves. The examination
of the eyes, the grinding, fitting and
mounting of the lenses are all done by
ourselves, but we charge for the goods
only and we intend to pursue this plan
Notwithstanding the fact that persons
who have searched New England in
vain for what they needed in the way
of glasses have found their wants met
here
Have glasses been long in use, Mr..
Mumford?"
Nero is said to have used an en-
erald lens to watch the burning Of
Rome, but spectacles did not come into
use till the time of Roger Bacon who
was a monk and practical philosopher,
and lived somewhere about the year
1850"
The science of optics seems to I've
very abtruse, Mr.. Mumford; how did
you come to master both the theoreti-
cal and practical sides of it,"
There is no royal road to the mas
terry Of practical optics. We have ac-
quired our knowledge by prolonged
study, and our experience by actual
work in the laboratory and workshop.
We have the advantage that comes
from the concentration Of our whole
attention on glasses and spectacles ex-
clusively."