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: Samuel
Jeremiah Jones, M.D.
U.S. Naval Asylum
Philadelphia
September 2nd 1863.
Surgeon James M. Greene, U.S. Navy
President of Naval Medical Board of
Examiners
Sir:
In observance to orders, from the
Navy Department, I reported to Captain Hudson, U.S. Navy, Commanding the
Navy Yard at Charlestown, Mass. on the 29th of April 1861,
for duty, on board the Steamer Freighter Minnesota. The vessel was put
in Commission, on the 1st of May, following, at which time, I
joined here. We sailed, from their on the 8th of May 1861,
the vessel bearing the flag of Flag-Officer S. H. Stringham, Commanding
the Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and Surgeon Edward Gilchrist being
ordered as “Surgeon of the Fleet”. We arrived in Hampton
Roads, on the 13th day of May, and on the 28th of
that month, we started for Charleston, S. C. We arrived off the bar, on
the first of June, and remained there, until the 12th of the
month, when the Minnesota was relieved by the Wabash, and we went as far
south as the mouth of the Savannah river, and then return to Hampton
Roads, arriving there on the 20th of June. When remained in
Hampton Roads, until August 25th, when we sailed for Hatteras
inlet, and participated in the engagements with, and capture of Forts
“Henry” and “Hatteras”, on the 29th of August. The prisoners
captured were taken on board the Minnesota, and conveyed to New York.
We arrived there on the 2nd of September, and departed from
there, on the 8th, for Hampton Roads, where we arrived on the
10th of September. The ship remained there for several
months, and, on the 15th of January 1862, I was temporarily
detached from the Minnesota, and ordered to “report for duty on the
Staff of Flag-Officer Goldsborough,” to accompany the Second Expedition
to North Carolina. I did so, and was present at the Engagements of
Roanoke Island, and Newbern. I was relieved of duty there on the 15th
of July, and granted leave of absence, for one week, at the expiration
of which, I rejoined the Minnesota, off Norfolk, Va.
On the 1st of November the
Minnesota went to Boston, for repairs, and return to Hampton Roads, on
the 8th of January 1863. I was detached from the Minnesota
on the 25th of April, in granted a leave of absence for one
week.
Under orders from the Navy
Department, I reported for duty at the Naval Rendezvous, in this city,
on the 15th of May, and I am now on duty there.
Saml J. Jones
Assistant Surgeon, U.S.N.
Questions by the Board:
Questions to be answered in writing,
by Asst Surgn Saml J. Jones,
U.S.N.
1. What are the different positions
of the vertex at the Superior Strait?
2. Enumerate the prominent diseases
of infancy + childhood.
3. What are the symptoms + causes of
Palsy?
4. What are the muscles of the
shoulder acting on the arm?
5. What are the symptoms of
Pneumonia?
6. Enumerate the different forms of
Idiopathic fever.
7. Describe the preparation of
chloroform – Give its composition + mode of use, and the degree of its
action on the system.
8. What the best disinfectants, and
how are they used?
9. Give a classification of the
organic compounds which enter as the constituents of food.
Answers by Jones:
1. Various classifications of the
position of the vertex at the Superior Strait are given. The one,
ordinarily, adopted gives six, named 1st 2nd 3rd
4th 5th and 6th positions, They are
divided into three occipito-anterior, and three occipito-posterior. In
the first position, the occiput presents at the acetabulum, of the left
side, – the frontal bone looking towards the right sacro-iliac symphysis.
In the second position, the occiput appears at the acetabulum of the
right side, and the frontal bone, at the left sacro-iliac symphysis.
In the third position, the occiput appears behind the symphysis Pubis –
and the frontal bone, at the promontory of the sacrum.
In the occipito-posterior positions,
the occiput appears – in the fourth position, at the right sacro-iliac
symphysis – in the fifth position, at the left sacro-iliac symphysis, –
and, the sixth position, at the promontory of the sacrum.
2. Prominent, among the diseases of
infancy and childhood, are Cholera infantum – Irritative fever – Croup –
Pertussis – Scarlatina – Rubeola – Varicella – Parotitis – Diarrhoea –
Dysentery – Plueritis, and Pneumonia.
3. The symptoms of Palsy are – loss
of power, in the affected part – impairment or absence of sensibility –
change of position, as the distorted mouth, in hemiplegia – Impaired
mental action, if the palsy be extensive, and dependent upon compression
of the brain. The causes of Palsy may be such as impair the function
of the nerve-centre, from which the nerves supplying the part, emanate –
or may be direct injury to the nerves themselves.
4. The muscle of the shoulder,
acting on the arm, are the Deltoid – the Supra-spinatus – the Infra-spinatus
– the Teres major – the Teres minor – the Subscapularis, and the
Coracobrachialis. The Pectoralis major – the Latissimus dorsi, and
the long head of the Biceps Flexor Cubit – although in immediate contact
with the others – cannot be designated “muscles of the shoulder acting
on the arm”.
5. The symptoms of Pneumonia are –
Difficulty of breathing, in affected part – Cough – “Rusty Sputa” –
Headache – Flushed face – Absence of the sharp pain in the chest, as in
case of Plueritis – Dullness on percussion – Absence of the respiratory
sound, and, when the lung has become solidified, bronchophy [sic, should
be bronchophony] and pectoriloquy will be audible. The disease
generally begins with decided rigors, followed by the febrile action.
6. The different forms of idiopathic
fever are – Intermittent fever – Remittent fever – Pernicious fever –
Common Continued fever – Typhoid fever – Yellow fever
7. Chloroform is prepared by
distilling alcohol, with chlorinated lime. It is a ter-chloride of
Formyle. It is used principally as anaesthetic, and administered by
inhalation. It is at first stimulating, and excites the system
somewhat, but the sedative and anaesthetic effect soon follows. Applied
externally, uncombined, it is a local irritant. Combined with oil it
makes on anodyne liniment. It is, used as the solvent of gutta-percha,
in the preparation called Chloro-percha.
8. The best disinfectants are
nitrate of lead, in solution, and used by sprinkling on an evaporating
surface. Also, chloride of calcium, used by moistening and spreading,
and exposing in an open vessel.
Nitric acid, also, acts as a good
disinfectant, when boiled, by parting with a portion of its oxygen,
which combines with the offending matter and destroys it by oxidation.
9. The organic compounds which enter
as the constituents of food, are divided into the nitrogenizd compounds,
and non-nitrogenizd compounds.
Saml J. Jones
Assistant Surgeon
U.S.N.
Phthisis Pulmonalis. –
Asst Surgeon Saml
J. Jones.
Phthisis Pulmonalis is a disease of
the lungs, characterized by the deposit of a substance, called tubercle,
in any part of the lungs. The exact character of the tubercle, and its
source, are not satisfactorily determined. It is supposed to be
perverted nutrition of the part. The deposit may be either common
[“cheesy” inserted in pencil] tubercle: miliary tubercle, or
tuberculosis infiltration. Having been deposited, there is induration
of that part of the lung. The organization of tubercle being of a lower
order then healthy matter, decomposition soon begins. It runs through
the different stages of inflammation – suppuration, and discharges. The
latter is, generally, accomplished by being coughed up, and expectorated
– the cough being cause by the irritation of the tubercle, in the
bronchial tubes, acting as foreign matter. The cavity left after the
discharge of the tubercle, is called a vomica. The predisposing cause,
is, generally, hereditary taint. Various exciting causes, as great and
sudden exposure to cold – depressing passions – impoverish state of the
general system, etc. may develop it earlier, or hastened its course, or
even develop [“produce” above in pencil] the disease, without the
hereditary tendency.
After the discharge of a portion of
suppurated tubercle, the vomica may cicatrize, and considerable time may
elapse, before furthering inconvenience be noticed, or, what is more
generally the case, other [correction marks in pencil and “portions of
the” inserted] tubercle [“le” crossed out in pencil “ulous mass”
inserted], which has [“ve” added in pencil], also, been undergoing
decomposition, follows [“s” crossed out and pencil] the course of the
previous mass. Thus each portion of the affected lung becomes
destroyed.
The prognosis is always unfavorable,
especially where there is decided hereditary taint, and when there is
not good physical development. Great care may often evert [correction
mark in pencil, “a” inserted], or, at least, delay the progress of the
disease.
The most frequent place of the first
deposit of tubercle is supposed to be the upper part of the lung – by
many the right lung is thought to be the first affected.
The physical signs are, the absence
of respiratory sound, in the affected part: dullness on percussion +
where the solidity of the lungs is great, bronchophony will exist. In
this suppurative stage, mucous rales are distinctly audible.
The rational signs are, cough –
emaciation – pallor – loss of appetite – shortness of breath – debility
– glassy appearance of the eyes, and, the later stages of the disease,
curving of the fingernails: profuse night-sweats, and anasarca.
Hemorrhages from the lung, may occur at any stage a disease, after the
deposit of the tubercle.
Of treatment, by far the most
important it is prophylactic. Where there is known predisposition to
this disease, or where the chest is not ample – proportionate to the
size of the individual, – regular physical exercise, in the open air,
and on horse-back, will prove of great service. Avoidance, as far as
possible, of sedentary habits. Nutritious diet. Regular and temperate
habits. Cheerful society, and travel, in congenial climate, will all
serve to guard against the development of the disease.
When the disease is once developed, a
rich, supporting course of treatment is demanded. Anodyne expectorants
are requisite if the cough be great. If hemorrhages, from the lungs be
free, Opium and acetate of lead will be serviceable. Where the
night-sweats are copious, aromatic sulphuric acid, will benefit.
Cod liver oil is one of the most
important remedies, in all stages of the disease, in consequence of its
being very nutritious, and easily digested and appropriated to the
system.
Saml J.
Jones
Assistant Surgeon
U.S.N.
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