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: Charles E. Humphrey, M.D.
I have I was born at Cherryville,
Northampton County, Pa. on the fourth day of May 1842. My
advantages of education are these. I passed two years in the
Preparatory, located at Gettysburg, Pa. preparing myself for
the freshman class. In the fall of 1856, I entered the said class of
Pennsylvania College, which it is situated at the same place. I took a
regular course of four years at College, passing through the Freshman,
Sophomore, Junior and Senior classes. During this time I studied
Mathematics, History and Latin and Greek. I also studied Chemistry +
Mineralogy. In Latin I read some of Ciceroe’s [sic] orations, Horace
and Livy. In Greek I read Heroptous [? Herodotus] works, and some parts
of Homer’s Iliad.
I commenced the study of Medicine
with my Father at Cherryville. I attended two courses of lectures at
the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated this spring.
I attended the clinics of
Pennsylvania Hospital, as well as those connected with the university.
I also took a course on operative surgery at the university. I also had
some experience in the practice of medicine last summer connected with
my father’s practice.
My address in the city is Bald Eagle,
3rd street above Callowhill. When at home it is Cherryville
Northampton County Pa
Charles E. Humphrey
U.S. Naval Asylum
Phila March 19, 1863
Questions by the Board:
Questions to be answered in writing,
by Dr. Cha’s E. Humphrey
1. What is a fracture, + the
rationale of union?
2. What are the means of arresting
hemorrhage?
3. How is flooding arrested?
4. What is the gas (in chemical
composition) which we burn for illuminating purposes?
5. What is coal oil?
6. What is what is commonly called
burning fluid?
7. What is Hydatid?
8. Define a “mixture” in pharmacy,
and write a prescription for one, without symbols or abbreviations.
9. What are the symptoms of
ossification of the valves of the heart?
Answers by Humphrey:
1. A fracture is a solution of the
continuity of bony structures. In a fracture there is always more or
less laceration of the soft parts. Inflammation is developed and an
effusion takes place. Liquor sanguinis and serum are thrown out. The
liquor sanguinis is absorbed, and the serum is changed into plasma,
which gives origin to the callus.
2. The means of arresting hemorrhage
are these. Cold, Styptics (one of the best, Monsells salt) and
Pressure.
3. Flooding is arrested by the
application of cold. By the introduction of an acid (as peeled lemon
[sic], and by the administration of Ergot, which causes contractions of
the uterus.
4. Illuminating gas is a composition
of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen.
5. Coal oil, is an oil found in the
earth containing a large amount of Carbon, Resides a peculiar oily
matter, as found in nature it is unfit for use, and must be purified.
Its origin is coal beds.
6. Burning fluid is a compound of
Turpentine and Alcohol.
7. A Hydatid is one of the causes
[?] of organized bodies, and lives in water.
8. A mixture in pharmacy, is the
composition of different medicines mingled together either solid or
liquid.
Rx Syrup Squll Syrupus
Scillae ℥ij
Syrup Senevear [?]
℥ j
Laudnum
[sic] gtt XX
Dose
fʓj
9. The symptoms of ossification of a
heart are; Difficulty of breathing – imperfect circulation, Blueness of
the hands, and lips. There may be regurgitation. The sounds of the
heat [sic] are changed. There will be either the bellows murmur
increased, or there will be the saw or rasping sound.
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