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: La Roy Frederick Morse, M.D.
Boston Navy Yard
Nov. 12, 1863
Dear Sir,
I were born [sic] in Canterbury New
Hampshire Feb. 5, 1839. I received an academical cours [sic] of
education.
I commenced the study of Medicine in
1860 under the instruction of Dr. L.[orrain] T. Weeks of Canterbury N.H.
remained with him two years. In 1862 I went to Washington D. C. and
remained there one year in the Campbell Hospital part of the time having
charge of a ward.
I have attended two courses of
lectures one cours [sic] at Burlington, Vt. and one at Dart. Coll.
N.H.
at the latter school I graduated Oct. last.
I remain very respectfully your
obt. Servant
L. F. Morse, M.D.
Questions by the Board:
Dr. La Roy F. Morse is requested to
write answers to the following questions.
1. What changes
are produced by the process of respiration, in the blood, and in the
atmospheric air.
2. What is chyle,
where is it formed and what is its use?
3. What are the
diagnostic symptoms of pneumonia?
4. What parts
enter into the composition of the ankle joint?
5. Name the
officinal preparations of opium with the dose of each? [sic]
6. What is
chemical affinity?
Answers by Morse:
1. The oxygen of the air enteres
[sic] the blood through the walls of the air-cells of the lungs and
convertes [sic] the veins blood into arterial by causing it to give up a
portion of the carbonic acid which it containes [sic].
The air gives a part of its oxygen
and takes on carbonic acid gas and watery vapor.
2. Chyle is the nutritious portion
of the digested food. It is found in the chyle duct. It is a source of
nutriment to the blood.
3. There is more or less pain in
the lung affected generally attended with some fever and difficult
respiration. On puting [sic] the ear to the chest a dry crackling sound
can be heard generally comparred [sic] to the rubing [sic] a lock of
hair between the fingers near the ear there is most always dulness [sic]
on percussion especely [sic] if the disease is far advanced.
The lung may be so filled up that
no air will pass then no sound will be detected with the ear, and dull
sound will be given by percussion.
4. The lower end of the tibea [sic],
fibulae + the os calsis, these bones are held together by ligaments.
5. Camphorated Tincture of Opium
Dose ʓj to ʓv.
Tinct. Opii
Dose x to xx ɱ.
Black
Drop, “ v to x ɱ.
Sulphate
of Morphia “ gr ½ to gr 1.
Acetate “ “ “ “ “
Extract of opium, “
℥ss.
6. It is that property which is
manifested in the union of two gasses [sic] of and unlike nature, as
oxygen and Hydrogen to form water. Or a [unclear] with a solid.
Dr. La Roy F. Morse
Canterbury N.H. Home
address