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: J. Homer Darling, M.D.
Sir,
I was born in the town of Cambridge
Vt. July 25, 1838. I had the advantage of common school until fourteen
years, then for two years advantages offered at Northfield Academy
Northfield Vt. after which I spent one year as clerk in a Drug Store
before commencing the study of Medicine in June 1855 with Dr. H. H.
Darling then of Charlton Worcester Co Mass. I attended my first course
of Medical lectures at the Castleton Med. Col. Castleton Vt in the
Autumn of 1858. My second course in Spring of 1859 graduating in June
of that year.
Since graduating I have been in
practice with Dr. H. H. Darling in East Douglas Mass. for about one year
and alone at Rindge N. H. two years, and in the Army as Asst.
Surgeon 57th Rgt. Mass. Vol. Mil. eight months. My
opportunities for seeing practice I think have been very fair.
Very
Respectfully
J. Homer
Darling
W. S. W. Ruschenberger M.D.
Surgeon U.S.N
Boston Mass
Navy Yard Boston Ms
Dec. 2d 1863
Questions by the Board:
Doct. James H. Darling is requested
to write answers to the following questions.
1. What is chyle, where
and how was it formed, and what is its use?
2. Name the officinal
preparations of potassium, with a dose and therapeutic use of each?
3. What changes are
produced in atmospheric air by respiration?
4. What parts enter into
the composition of the knee joint?
5. What are the symptoms
and signs of pneumonia?
6. Define the terms
“temperature”, “latent heat” and “specific gravity”? [sic]
Answers by Darling:
1 Chyle formed during the process of
digest by the action of the gastric juice, the pancreatic secretion and
bile upon the ingesta. It is found in the duodenum and thoracic duct.
It contains the nutrition material, and is used to make blood.
1 [sic] Nitrate of Potassa. An
arterial sedative, diuretic, Dose from three to ten grains
Chlorate of Potassa also an
arterial sedative, and has been thought to have peculiar power as in
oxidizing agent Dose from five to fifteen grains Iodide of Potassium. An alterative
and a diuretic Dose from five to twenty grs. Carbonate of Potassa use only as
an eschoratic [sic].
Bicarbonate of Potassa uses as an
antacid in acidity of the stomach and poisoning by acids is also
slightly diuretic. Dose from one half dram to two thirds or more drams.
Bitartrate of Potassa Diuretic Dose
half dram
3 Oxygen is taken from the
atmosphere, carbonic acid is formed in the lungs and thrown off at every
expiration.
4 The Femer [sic] at its lower
extremity, the Tibia, the Patella, the external and internal lateral
ligaments and the Crucial ligaments.
5 Short, quick respirations,
dull pain in some part of the chest usually lower part of one side;
headache, feverishness quick strong, sometimes wiry pulse, scanty, high
colored urine. Physical signs dullness on percussion over affected
portion of the lung, and perhaps increased resonance over healthy
portion. Auscultation Crepitant rale in first stages, later
bronchophony and bronchial respiration.
6 Temperature the word used to
express the condition of heat or the absence of it. A body may contain
heat, while below the temperature of the atmosphere which may be called
“latent” and under certain circumstances will show itself. Specific
gravity the weight of a gas compared with the air, atmospheric or solid
bodies with water.
J. Homer Darling
Navy Yard Boston Ms.
Dec. 2d 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