Something about sight testing

Historical Significance: Sawtell's was one of Australia's earliest optometry firms. Its founder was Alfred Edwin Sawtell (1817-1902) who was an optician and instrument maker in England. He migrated to Australia in 1852 establishing himself in Divett Street, Port Adelaide as optician, watchmaker, jeweller and instrument maker. He later moved into the heart of Adelaide in Rundle Street. His sons Charles and John succeeded him and relocated to Adare House North Terrace opposite the University of Adelaide. The Sawtell optometric practice would continue for over 130 years. John Sawtell, brother of the author,Charles, was the first chairman of the South Australian Registration Board in 1920 and was issued with Registration certificate No 1. Sawtell's was the first Australian optometry practice to advertise correction of astigmatism in 1880. (South Australian Register of May 1 1880) and in numerous subsequent advertisements, claimed it was the only establishment where astigmatic spectacles can be fitted. (See SA History hub http://sahistoryhub.com.au/subjects/sawtells-nautical-optician for more information). This booklet is a promotion of the author's practice and is a somewhat repetitive and overlong argument for the value of the ophthalmic optician who tests eyes and provides glasses to the measured prescription, in contrast to the medical doctor who knows little about glasses, and on the other hand, the seller of glasses who does not know about eyes. The last several pages deals with the rivalry between eye doctors and optometrists and the author reminds readers that the Sawtell practice supplied compound lenses to correct astigmatism many years before the local eye doctor was willing to acknowledge this form of correction.