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: Alexander Sydney Mackenzie, M.D.
Navy Yard Boston
November 19th, 1863
Dear Sir
Agreeably to your request I should
give a brief sketch of my place of birth, Education etc.
I was born at a place called Saint
Ann’s on the Island of Cape Breton, Nova. Scotia on the 25th
day of December 1834 I attended the Common Schools at that place until I
was about thirteen years of age when I engaged as a Merchants Clerk with
Hugh Munro Esq. of Sydney C.B. I afterwards served a number of years at
the same occupation with I.D. Gillis and finally with Messrs Archibald +
Co. of North Sydney Cape Breton. Not being satisfied by the prospects
afforded by merchandizing in Cape Breton I resolved to Study Medicine.
I Commenced the Study of Medicine under the care of Dr. Charles
Schomberg Elliot of North Sydney C.B. in May 1859. I studied with
Dr. Elliot for a year and a half.
I entered Harvard Med. School, in
Boston about the first of November 1860. I continued studying at the
Same School or College until July 1863 when I had the Degree of Doctor
of Medicine Conferred upon me by the Faculty of Said College. I studied
under the care of Dr. Walker Superintendent of the Boston Lunatic
Hospital At the Lunatic Hospital as well as at the House of Correction
(which is also under Dr. Walkers Care) I had many opportunities of
witnessing and treating Diseases
I may add with regard to my
preliminary Education, that I had to be my own teacher
Very Respectfully,
A. Mackenzie
Sydney Cape Breton
To
Surgeon W. S. W. Ruschenberger
Navy Yard Charlestown
Questions by the Board:
Mr. Alexander Mackenzie is requested
to write answers to the following questions.
1. Name a
leading article of each class of the materia medica, and state its dose?
[sic]
2. What organs
are contained in the cavity of the abdomen?
3. What is the
function the pancreas?
4. What are the
diagnostic symptoms of flatulent colic?
5. What is
chemical affinity?
6. What blood
vessels are divided in amputation of the leg, at its upper third?
Answers by Mackenzie:
1. Sulphate of Magnesea,
Cathartic, Dose ℥j
Diuretic
– Spt. Eth. Nit. Dose ʓss to ʓj
Diaphoretic – Pulv. Doveri – “ gr.x
Expectorant Ant, et Pot. Tart. “ gr.¼
Arterial Stimulant – Sp. Vin Gal. “
℥i
Nervous “ Nux Vomica “ Gr.1/20, Ext.
Sedative –
Valerian “ ʓij, F. Ext.
Narcotic – Opium “ Gr.j
Anthelmintic – Spt. Tereb. “ ʓss
Emmenagogue – Guiac “ ʓij Tinct
Astringent Tanin “ Gr.ij
Alterative Iod. Potass. Gr.v
Demulcents Gum Acaciae.
Rubefacients Mustard
Sialogogues Calomel Gr.¼
Emetics Aut. et Pot Tart, Gr.ij
Antacids Sodae Bicarb Gr.xxx
Tonics – Tinct. Fer. Mur ɱ xv
Caustics Nit. Silver
2. Stomach, Liver, Pancreas, Spleen,
Kidneys, Large and Small intestines
3. The function of the pancreatic
juice is to dissolve the chyle in order that it may be taken up by the
Lacteals etc
4. In flatulent colic there is great
pain and hardness in the abdomen. There is also a great tenderness or
pressure with the hand but sometimes the patient finds relief by
constant pressure in a stooping position
5. Chemical affinity is that
property by which the two metals amalgamate to form a new compound
6. In amputating the leg at the
upper third we divide the anterior and posterior tibial arteries
Alexd. Mackenzie
Boston Naval Yard
Nov. 19, 1863 }