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 M. Dickson:
U.S. Naval Asylum, Philadelphia
March 14th
1863.
To the Naval Medical Board,
Gentlemen,
In compliance with instructions I
respectfully by leave to state that_ I was born in Philadelphia on the
ninth day of May eighteen hundred and thirty-eight. At the
age of nine years on the deceased of my parents, having previously
attended an ordinary school for children, was sent by my Guardian to the
Wilmington Classical Institution, Rev: Samuel M. Gayley, Principal (I
may mention Admiral DuPont + brothers were educated at same
institution). After spending six years at the Institution during which
time I received instruction in the branches usually taught in such
schools viz: Latin, Greek, for short time French, History, Mathematics
etc returned to Philadelphia and went through the course prescribed by
the Philada College of Pharmacy as necessary to secure its
diploma, namely five years apprenticeship to the Prescription Drug
business + attendance at two courses of lectures. Desiring to acquire a
more complete knowledge of drugs etc I entered + remained a year in a
Wholesale Drug house on Market st: Philadelphia where I had
opportunities for seeing + handling drugs in all forms.
I am now commenced the study of
Medicine with J. G. Allen M.D. of Philadelphia and received the diploma
of the University of Pennsylvania on the fourteenth day of March
eighteen hundred and sixty three.
During the course of my medical
studies I attended several private courses of lectures on Obstetrics,
Anatomy, Surgery etc, clinics at Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia
Hospital and Lying in Charity. During five months previous to my
attendance at the course of lectures just terminated at the University
of Pennsylvania, I was on duty in the U.S.A. Gen’l Hospital West
Philadelphia, with the rank of Medical Cadet but acting as Resident in
charge of two Medical Wards subject to supervision, once daily, of a
visiting Surgeon.
Very respectfully
John M. Dickson.
No. 1105 Chestnut st
Philadelphia.
[No Q & A in 1863 Book; probably did
not complete exam – Entered the Army – Asst. Surg. 92nd Pa
Vol. Inf. Reg. & Surg. 213th Vol. Inf. Reg.]