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: Abian H. Light, M.D.
Preliminary Letter.
I was born two miles from Lebanon,
Lebanon County, State of Pennsylvania, on the 30th of January
1840.
I attended the Lebanon academy until
I became seventeen (17) years of age, during which time I studied the
common school branches, some Latin, and Greek, and the minor
Mathematical branches.
I commenced the study of medicine in
eighteen hundred and fifty-eight in Lebanon, with Dr. C. Dorsey
Gleninger. Attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, and
graduated at said school in 1862.
My opportunities for making myself
acquainted with Pharmacy, and the physical property of drugs is limited.
I had an opportunity of observing the
practice of Medicine and Surgery in the Military hospitals, and also in
the field.
My address in Philadelphia his No
1125 Chestnut St. And when home Lebanon P.O. Lebanon Co. Penna
Abia H. Light, M.D.
Naval Asylum
January 23d 1863.
Questions of the Board:
Questions to be answered in writing,
by Dr. Abijah H. Light
1. What are the stages of Pneumonia,
and the symptoms of each.
2. Describe the membranes to
placenta + cord.
3. Write a prescription (Latin)
without symbols, or abbreviations, for a cough mixture, with directions
for use.
4. What are the relations of the
common carotids?
5. What are the symptoms and
treatments of gangrene?
6. How are wounds of the Intestines
to be treated?
7. Give the mode of making Sulphuric
Acid the rationale of the process, and the properties of the acid_
8. What is senna? give the Source,
commercial varieties, properties, preparations, uses etc.
9. What is the general distribution
of the sympathetic nervous system and its function?
Answers by Light:
1st. Pneumonia is
divided into three stages.
Symptoms of a 1st Pain in
the affected side, or in both sides if there exists inflammation in both
lungs.
Cough, hot skin, and quick pulse. 2nd
Stage – cessation of pain, dullness on percussion, rusty sputa and pulse
weaker. 3rd Stage – The air vesicles become closed.
Upon auscultation You find hurrid [sic] respiration, The blood becomes
improperly oxygenated, and the circulation will be imperfectly
performed, consequently a slow and weak pulse, and prostration of the
patient.
2nd. The placenta is
composed of three coats or membranes, viz: acidium, liquor amnii, and
coroid, they also envelope the cord.
3rd. Rx Surupus Scillae
compositus – an ounce.
Syrupus simplex, Six
drachms
Tinctura opii
camphorato.
Spiritus aetheris
nitrici. ao half an ounce.
M: ft: Sig: cochleare parvum ter, vil quartum in die.
4th. Common or Primitive
Carotid arise on the right side from the innominate, and on the left
from the arch of the aorta. It goes through the anterior triangles of
the neck, lies close to the sterno cleido mastoideus, (which is the line
for ligation) the jugular vein on the inside and the par vagum on the
outside, They are enclosed in the one sheath. It gives off the internal
and external Carotid.
5th. Symptoms of Gangrene
– There is a want of vital action, the part becomes cold and almost
insensible to the touch, it presents a vivid, blueish [sic], or blackish
appearance. Treatment – nourished the part – stimulate, – and if the
amputation is necessary, amputate.
6th Wounds of the
intestines are to be treated thus: place the patient in bed and keep
quiet, the bowels are to be kept as easy as possible, The wounds are to
be closed if convenient, prevent the escape of faeces into the abdomen,
should there be peritonitis treat it antiphlogistically, or general
principles.
7th. Acidum Sulphuricum
(SO3) Lake sulphur, oxygen and water – apply a gentle heat.
The hydrogen will go off, the oxygen will go to the Sulphur, and the
sulphuric acid will be formed. Properties A clear straw coloured liquid
– taste pungent – Tonic, astringent, or esclerotic. And in large doses
poisonous.
8th. Senna, Leaves
are used. It is a cathartic.
9th. Sympathetic nerves
are distributed to different parts of the body, and viscera or organs,
thus one organ will sympathize with another, the brain with the stomach,
uterus and stomach etc.
A. H. Light, M.D.
Naval Asylum
January 25th 1863.