To the Naval Board of Medical
Examiners.
The undersigned, a candidate for
examination for admission into the medical corps of the Navy,
respectfully presents the following remarks.
His age is twenty three years, ten
months, and twenty days. [Born April 30, 1836. [in another hand]]
His place of birth is Cincinnati
Ohio.
His places of education are Marietta
Ohio, and Madison, Ia. He is not a literary graduate, having never
studied all the branches of literature, necessary to obtain a degree.
His medical “alma Mater” is the
Jefferson Medical College of this city, having attended his first course
during the session of 1853-4, and his second during the session of
1855-6, at the termination of which he received a diploma of the
College.
The name and address of his
preceptors are, “Dr. Paul Sears, Mount Carmel, Wabash County, Illinois.
He has engaged uninterruptedly, in
the study + practice of medicine since the spring of 1851, during which
time he is attended three courses of lecture at the Jefferson College,
including one during the past winter.
As the board is aware, a country
practitioner is compelled to prepare nearly, if not quite all, of his
prescriptions, for which reason, his knowledge of practical Pharmacy,
and of those drugs which he is in the habit of employing, is apt to be
good. The candidate practiced in a country town of fifteen hundred
inhabitants, in a malarious region, presenting the usual diseases of
such. Surgical practice, of course, amounts to very little in such a
location.
He engaged in the study of no branch
of Natural History, except Botany, medical + general.
His acquainted with the Latin
language, also with sufficient of the German to answer a Physician’s
purposes practicing among that people.
His post office address is “Mount
Carmel, Wabash County, Illinois.”
All of which is most respectfully
submitted.
John J. Gibson, M.D.
Questions to be answered in writing,
by,
Dr. John J. Gibson.
1. What is the difference between
“furuncle + anthrax” [sic]
2. Describe the symptoms and causes
of tetanus? [sic]
3. What is the number of infantile
teeth, and in what order do they appear?
4. What is the function of the
lymphatics?
5. Enumerate the bones and ligaments
of the carpus.
6. Write a prescription for Infusion
of Eupatorium.
7. What is the chemical difference
between organic and inorganic matter?
8. Name all diseases which are
generally admitted to be contagious?
9. Write directions in detail for
the preparation of arrowroot, to be given to a patient suffering from
fever.
10. What are Diaphoretics, and what
are their therapeutic uses?
11. How is sulphuric Ether prepared,
and what is its composition?
12. What are the tests for corrosive
sublimate?
1. Anthrax is a specific
inflammation, terminating in gangrene, furuncle is not.
2. Symptoms, stiffness + rigidity of
one or more sets of muscles, gradually extending to all, flexors more
powerfully affected than extensors. Cause, nervous irritation, from
injury of nerve, or pressure of bone upon it after amputation, or
involvement in cicatrix, or exposure to cold + hunger after wound or
operation etc.
3. Number of infantile teeth 20.
Lower incisors first, then upper, then first molars, then canines, then
last molars.
4. The function of the lymphatics is
to absorb + to convey to the Thoracic duct the elements of the broken
down tissues.
5. Bones of the carpus, scaphoides,
lunare, cuneiforme, pisiforme, trapezium, trapezoides, magnum +
unciforme. Ligaments, anterior + posterior, (annular), external +
internal lateral, interosseous + synovial membranes.
6. Rx
Eupatorii (℥ij)
uncias duas,
Aguae bullientis
(Oj)
Octarium unum,
Let it stand in a covered vessel
until cool.
7. Dose, a wine glass full every 15
or 20 minutes until vomiting is produced.
The principal difference between
organic + in organic matter is the presence of nitrogen cap word in the
former.
8. Exanthematous, as Rubeola,
Variola, Scarlatina, Cutaneous, as Psora, Scabies, Venereal, as
Syphilis, Gonorrhea, General, as Typhus + Yellow (?) Fever, Erysipelas
(?).
9. makes one to two tablespoonsfull
[sic] of arrowroot with a pint of boiling water, add sugar, + something
to flavor, as the patient prefers, let him take it ad libitum.
10. Diaphoretics are “remedies which
increase the cutaneous transpiration.” They very indirect, + very few of
the remedies so-called are to be relied upon. It is probable that no
single article in the Materia Medica has any specific power in
producing this effect. Diaphoretics are supposed to be applicable to
cases in which the surface is hot + dry, but are not generally to be
used until after the reduction of arterial excitement by the lancet,
etc.
11. Sulphuric Ether is prepared by
the action of Sulphuric Acid upon Alcohol. Its chemical composition is
the same as that of alcohol, with the abstraction of one equivalent of
water, which effect is produced by the addition of the Sulphuric Acid.
It is an oxide of ethyl, but its symbol + equivalent numbers, the
candidate does not know.
12. The tests of Corrosive
Sublimate, are, Iodide of Potassium, Ammonia + a bright piece of
copper. The first produces a red precipitate, the “Hydrargyrui
Iodidum Rubrum” U.S.P., or bin-iodide of Mercury, the second produces a
white precipitate, the “Hydrargyrum Ammoniatum” U.S.P., or
Ammoniated Mercury, + when the third is used a deposition of metallic
Mercury takes place upon it, from the decomposition of the Corrosive
Chloride, + the copper taking its place in a solution. The
Ferrocyanuret of Potassium is also
a test, forming bicyanuret of Mercury, but its color the candidate does
not recollect.
March 27th 1860
John J. Gibson
Naval Asylum, Philada }
Theme for Dr. John J. Gibson
Digitalis: its history, officinal
preparations, their doses and therapeutic uses.
Digitalis. Folia. U.S.P. Herb of
the Digitalis purpurea. Natural Order Scrophutariaceae.
Foxglove is an annual herbaceous
plant, growing in different parts of the United States, preferring damp,
rich soil, and a shaded situation. It flowers rather late in the
summer. The corolla is dark brownish or purplish, whence the specific
name, and bilabiate. The growing herb has a rank, disagreeable smell,
much stronger than when dried.
The officinal preparations of
digitalis are but two, the leaves used in powder, “Digitalis,” and the
tincture, “Tinctura Digitalis,” the dose of the former is two to five
grains, and the latter 10 to 30 drops, twice or three times a day,
cautiously watched, and, as necessary, gradually increased, until either
the desired indication is fulfilled, or the poisonous effect shows its
approach.
The medicinal operations of this
remedy are narcotic, diuretic and as an arterial sedative. It has been
used in dropsy, local and general, in various diseases of the heart, in
which the indication was to reduce the power and frequency of the action
of that organ, particularly in hypertrophy, in many inflammatory
diseases, with the same view, and it has also been used in amenorrhea
with asserted benefit.
Very great discrepancy exists
among medical writers, in relation to the therapeutic powers of this
article, which some assert that they employ it with very beneficial
results, and rely upon it greatly in the diseases to which they think it
adapted, others again, claiming an equal experience in its use, assert
that its virtues have been much overrated. It is probable that much of
this difference of opinion, arises from the deterioration of the drug,
from long keeping, still, men whose opinions are worthy of regard, are
found among those who deny its efficacy.
Certificate of Physical Capacity
Philadelphia, March 1st
1860
I declare, ON HONOR, that my health
at this time is good and robust; and, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I am free from constitutional defects, and without any
predisposition to epilepsy, Phthisis Pulmonalis, gout, or chronic
disease of any kind. I have neither circocele but, stricture of the
urethra, hemorrhoids, nor hernia. Each and all of my organs of sense
are without imperfection.
John J. Gibson
Candidate for the office of Assistant Surgeon
In the Navy of United
States.
