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: Thomas Bowen, M.D.
Naval Asylum Phila.
March 15th, 1863
I was born on the island of Barbados
West Indies and was 26 years of age on the fourth instant.
I had no classical education and my
scientific attachments extend only to the branches taught in the Medical
Schools. I attended no College for my preliminary education but
received instruction from private Tutors at home.
I have been engaged four years in the
Study of Medicine two years of which time I was with a preceptor (Dr.
John Rodgers F. R. C. L. L.) in the Island of my nativity and during
that period I attended a Hospital there being present at Surgical
Operations and sometimes administering the anesthætic, I visited the
wards with the Physicians and frequently made “Post Mortem”
examinations. I have attended at the University of Penna. Phila. one
Winter course of lectures and two Summer Clinics. I have attended the
Clinics at the Penn Hospital for sixteen months. I have had six months
practical Anatomy and three months practical Obstetrics. I attended
this Winter a course of lectures at the Georgetown Medical College,
Washington, where I have passed the examination for graduation but have
not yet received the Diploma. I dispensed the prescriptions of my
preceptor while I was with him.
I speak the English language only.
Thomas Bowen
(Note: A blank page follows and no Q
& A was found.)