The
following is a dictated translation of the hand-written application to
the U. S. Navy Examination Board during the Civil War by a civilian
physician/surgeon for a position as a medical officer in the Federal
Navy or for promotion to Assistant Surgeon by an Acting Assistant
Surgeon. The actual
applications are in the possession of the author and presented to
enlighten the general public and other researchers as to the education
process before and during the Civil War, the personal history of the
applicants, as well as to show their personal level of medical knowledge
in answering the questions asked by the Navy Board of Examiners.
(Some applicants failed to pass and did not serve or served in the Union
Army.)
This written presentation was first of a part of a two-part exam consisting of a written
exam and an oral exam.
Many of these applications are rich
with highly detailed medical content offering an interesting perspective
on the medical knowledge and practices of the period.
A broad sampling of these exams is presented to
give you a 'picture' of the type of applicant being examined and
admitted to or rejected by the Federal Navy in 1863. Much more detail
on the individuals and their personal and naval history will be
presented in a forth-coming book by Dr. Herman.
(The actual written exam photos are available, but not presented on
these pages due to the size of the files. An
example
of a hand-written exam is on the
List of all Applicants page)
If you have additional information or images for any of these
doctors, please
contact us.
A list with links to
all applicants in this survey of U.S. Navy Applicants for 1863
Example of a handwritten exam given by the Navy Examination Board
Applicant: John Blackmer, M.D.
[Board comment in pencil: aged 35
last July – seems to be in good condition – and is an intelligent
gentleman]
Navy Yard
Boston
Dec. 4, 1863.
Surg. Ruchenberger U.S.N.
I have to
inform you that I was born at Plymouth Mass. July 18, 1828. Fitted for
college at Phillips academy and over. Entered Brown University
Providence R.I. In 1849. To the select course there + left in 1850 or
51. Commenced the study of medicine at Falmouth Mass. In 1851 under
the direction of Dr. Aaron Cornish. Graduated the Harvard Medical
School at Boston in 1854. Practice medicine in Effingham N. H. five
yrs. Spent two years in the McLean Asylum Somerville as Asst position.
Was commissioned Asst Surgeon of the 41st Mass Regt.
September 1862 and November 1862 was commissioned Surgeon of the 47th
Mass Regt.
Your Obt.
Servt.
John Blackmer
Somerville
Mass.
Questions by the
Board:
Dr. John Blackmer is requested
to write answers to the following questions.
1. What are characteristic symptoms
of typhoid fever?
2. What are the surgical means of
relieving retention of urine?
3. What are the officinal
preparations of sodium?
4. What is the situation, and
function of the pancreas?
5. What parts enter into the
structure of the ankle joint?
6. Define the terms “specific
gravity”, “latent heat,” and temperature?
Answers by Blackmer:
1. Sense of languor, or
wariness, in disposition to physical or mental effort; in some instances
preceding the more decided febrile symptoms by several days. Chills
sometimes very slight, sometimes very decided. Restlessness –
Uneasiness at the stomach + often nausea. Headache. Pain in the back,
not infrequently continuous, + very severe. Loss of appetite. Thirst.
General diminution of the secretions. The salivary + perspiratory +
kidneys being especially affected. Temperature of the surface of the
body increased. Face flushed, pulse accelerated, tongue furred. After
one or two weeks the disease may assume a grave character. The common
febrile symptoms are aggravated. The urine is more scanty. The skin
harsh + dry, but sometimes (especially after sleep) bathed in a profuse
perspiration. Delirium comes on. The tongue becomes very dry, its
surface brown + cracked or smooth glassy + very red. Pulse loses its
tone becomes rapid and feeble. The bowels are tender + sometimes
tympanitic [sic]. The discharges assume a dark + offensive character.
The strength fails + every organ seems to be more or less implicated in
the great struggle.
2. The introduction of the
catheter per urethra.
3. Bicarbonate of soda. Muriate of sodium.
4. The pancreas is situated
in the abdomen near the diaphragm behind + to the right of the stomach.
It secretes a fluid called the “pancreatic fluid which is supposed to
have an agency in converting chyme into chyle.
5. The astragalus, tibia + fibula
cartilage ligaments + synovial membrane.
6. “Specific gravity” is the
weight of a substance, compared with another substance (taken as a
standard) bulk for bulk.
“Latent heat” – every
substance contains a certain amount of caloric, under favorable
circumstances a portion of this is given off, but some, always remains
behind. This is called “latent heat.”
Temperature signifies degree
of heat or cold.
John Blackmer
Navy Yard
Boston, Dec. 4, 1863
A
list with links to
all applicants in this survey of U.S. Navy Applicants for 1863
Example of a handwritten exam given by the Navy Examination Board