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: Alfred S. Laubach, M.D.
In reply to the question given the I
can reply as follows: I was born June 20, 1837 in Bath Northampton Co.
Pa. I have never attended a literary College. My education being
derived from the Public School of our borough. The course of studies
there persued [sic, correction marks in pencil] included Geography,
English Grammar, Arithmetic, Mensuration and Surveying. To the
Classics I have never been able to devote any time. As regards the
Sciences outside of those connected with Medicine, I have studied
Natural Philosophy.
In January 1859 I first commenced to
study Medicine at Bath Northampton Co. Pa. with Dr. G. P. Kern, and
graduated in the University Medical College of New York City.
Respecting pharmacy, I have a
practical knowledge, as I have been accustomed to fill my own
prescriptions as they have occurred in my practice during the last 16
months; besides my own practice, I have attended a summer course of
lectures in New York City and visited the hospitals daily in the year
1861. I am well acquainted with the German language.
In regard to testimonials of moral
character etc, I cannot present any at the present time, but can safely
state that my health is without blemish.
Address in Philadelphia is Bald Eagle
Hotel North 3rd St. and Post Office at my home in Bath
Northampton Co. Pa.
Alfred S Laubach
Naval Asylum, Philad.
Sept 25th 1863.
Question by the Board:
Questions to be answered in writing,
by Dr Alfred S Laubach.
1. Describe the best mode of
vaccination.
2. What is aneurism, and how is it
divided by Surgeons?
3. What is the diagnosis of
amaurosis?
4. Describe the process for
detecting Arsenic in cases of poisoning.
5. What is electromagnetism?
6. What is secretion? describe its
nature + the agency’s by which it is effected.7. Describe the heart
anatomically.
8. What is Pertussis? its symptoms
+ treatment?
9. Enumerate the several diseases of
the skin; How are they classified?
Answers by Laubach:
1st Vaccination is best
performed to my knowledge by making slight incisions through the
epidermis of the skin, not sufficiently deep to cause the blood to
exude, the incisions to cross each other at right angles, and to be the
size of half a dime or more, the upper extremity at the point of the
insertion of the Deltoid is the part to be selected to perform the
operation by preference; the matter to be applied with the lancet where
the scab is used, or, with quills etc.
2nd Aneurism is a
pulsating tumor situated in the course of a bloodvessel, and contains
blood or some of its ingredients, in consequence of its communicating
with it where it exists, it may be of small size or be increased to the
size of a man’s head. Is divided into, true, false, diffused,
aneurism by anastimosis [sic] + aneurismal varix.
3rd Diagnosis of
Amaurosis from Cataract may be known by the time it has made its
appearance + how vision is first affected, dimness of vision frequently
coming on more suddenly, while in cataract partial loss of sight comes
on gradually until it finally becomes complete, vision being always
improved by a bright light, the patient in walking across a room
invariably looks upward, while in amaurosis he looks down and vision is
improved in the dark, in the shade, and towards evening, the patient
making his way groping along as he walks; the external appearance of the
pupil in cataract from its natural color is changed into pale blue, is
most conspicuous anteriorly, while in amaurosis the pupil generally
retains as natural color.
4th The process for
detecting arsenic in cases of poisoning, may consist in mixing a
solution of the suspected material containing arsenic with ammoniated
nitrate of silver, it changes it into yellow canary color; or by mixing
a solution of arsenic with ammoniated Sulphate of copper which produces
a beautiful green called Scheele’s green. Or Marsh’s test which
consists in mixing a solution of arsenic with the ingredients for
generating hydrogen gas and holding over the flame of it a cold plate of
glass when there will be deposited upon it a dark grayish metallic
arsenic ring, which may be evaporated by heat.
5th Electro Magnetism is
magnetism produced by an Electro Magnetic battery, it consists in
stimulating the nervous system to excitement, throughout the whole body.
6th Secretion is the
process by which materials are eliminated from the blood in different
parts the body for the purpose of nourishment to which is necessary for
its existence, the secretion is peculiar to the organ in which it takes
place, the agencies by which it is affected is a disputed question, the
nervous system undoubtedly controls its action, with perhaps the
affinity which the material has for the structure of the organ in which
it takes place.
7th The heart is a hollow
muscular organ divided into two halves by a muscular septum, which again
is divided into two parts called respectfully right auricle + ventricle,
and left auricle + ventricle, the right auricle communicates with its
ventricle by a valve called tricuspid, left auricle communicates with
its ventricle by a valve named Mitral. The opening into the right
auricle of an adult consist in an opening for the superior + inferior
vena cava + one leading into the right ventricle; into the right
ventricle is one from the right auricle + one leading into the pulmonary
artery; into left auricle two from pulmonary veins + one into the left
ventricle; the left ventricle has one opening from the left auricle +
one into aorta. The vessels attached to it are the Superior + inferior
vena cava the pulmonary artery + two veins with the aortic artery. The
heart is situated in the chest between the lungs on the diaphragm, the
leading more to the left side than the right, it is bounded above by a
line drawn horizontally across the third costal cartilage in front, and
below by a line drawn horizontally across the ensiform cartilage
extending to the right 1 inch to the middle of the sternum + 2 ½ inches
to the left side of the chest from the middle line of the sternum. Its
apex reaches to a point by a line drawn perpendicular one + a half
inches to the left of sternum between the 5th + 6th
ribs. Its structure is composed of muscular + fibrous tissue; its size
about 3 ½ inches broad, to 6 ½ long; weight about 33 ounces.
8th Pertussis or Whooping
Cough is characterized by a cough of a peculiar shrill whooping noise,
symptoms at first coryza, slight fever dyspnoea + cough in about ten
days is increased to spasmodic respiration, with a spasmodic cough of a
shrill + hoarse character sometimes continues for two or three months.
Treatment is Opium + its preperations [sic, correction marks in pencil]
Belladona [sic, correction marks in pencil], Ipecacuanha, hydrocyanic
acid in syrups etc, the functions to be stimulated to perform their
duties, warm baths, etc the skin to be well covered by flannels etc at
neck chest etc.
9th The diseases of the
skin may be classified into the Exanthamatous [sic], Papular, Squamous,
Pustular, Tubercular + Maculae. Under the head of Exanthematous may
be classed Erythema, Erysipelas, Urticaria + Roseala [sic, correction
marks in pencil]; under the head of Papular, Exema, Herpes, Pomphigus,
Rubio, Scabies; under Pustular, Acne, Impetigo, Sycosis etc; under
Squamous Pityriasis, Psoriasis Lepra + Icthyosis; under Tubercular,
Elephantiasis etc; under Macula, Freckles, Bronze hue etc.
Alfred S Laubach
Naval Asylum
Philada Sept 25th
1863.
Certificate of Physical Capacity
I declare on honor that my health at
this time is good and robust; and that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I am free from any accidental or constitutional defects, and
without any predisposition to Epilepsy, Phthisis, Gout, Apoplexy, or
chronic disease of any kind.
I am not at present affected with
varicocele, disease of the urinary organs, hernia, or hemorrhoids; nor
am I aware that there is anything hereditary in my constitution, which
would hereafter be likely, to incapacitate me, for the arduous duties of
a Medical Officer of the Navy.
All my organs of sense are without
imperfection.
Alfred S Laubach
Candidate for the office
of
Assist. Surgeon in the Navy of the United States
