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: George Cowles Osgood, M.D.
Charlestown Navy Yard
Charlestown Mass.
February 21st 1863.
Surgeon Ruschenberger,
Dear Sir,
I was born in West Newbury Mass. on
the 23rd of December 1838. My parents’ names are John and
Dorcas Osgood. My father is dead, my mother now lives in this City.
Attended the Public Schools in Lowell
Mass. more or less of the time for seven or eight years.
On the 6th day of June
1856, I connected myself with H. W. Allen, of Lowell Mass. as an
assistant in in [sic] the Apothecary business and have been with him, in
the same capacity since that time until the present. On the first of
January 1860, I commenced the Study of Medicine, with the Nathan Allen
M.D. of Lowell Mass.
I attended the regular course of
Lectures at “Harvard Medical College” in the City of Boston Mass, during
the winter of 1861 & 2, and I have also attended the Lectures at the
same Institution during the present winter.
I have followed closely the Clinical
Lectures and visits, of Drs. Bowditch and Shattuck at the Mass. Gen.
Hospital, during the winter of /61 & /62 and the present winter, also
similar exercises by Surgeon H. J. Bigelow.
I have frequently visited the “U.S.
Marine Hospital” in Chelsea Mass. and the “Dispensary” in Boston Mass.
My health was never better than at
present time.
I am respectfully
Your obedient Servant
George Cowles Osgood.
Questions by the Board:
Dr. George C. Osgood is requested to
write answers to the following questions.
1. What is meant by
chemical affinity?
2. How are
cathartics medicines classified therapeutically; name one of each class?
3. How is
concussion distinguished from compression of the brain?
4. What glands and
glandular organs take part in the process of digestion?
5. What are the
diagnostic symptoms of dysentery?
6. What is the
origin, course and distribution of right subclavian artery?
Answers by Osgood:
1. The mutual attraction which
particles have for each other when brought in contact. The chemical
attraction between them.
2. Those which act upon the small,
and those which act upon the large intestine. Rhubarb acts upon the
small intestine Aloes acts upon the large intestine.
3. Salivary, mucous glands of
Stomach, The Liver and Pancreas, and Mesenteric glands.
4. In the first the substance of the
brain is not injured, in the second it usualy [sic] is.
5. Griping pain in umbilical region,
watery stools, and in advanced stages may be more or less bloody,
frequent discharges with tenesmus.
6. It arises from the Arteria
Innominata, then passes obliquely outwards and upwards beneath the right
clavicle and behind it for 3 or 4 inches until it arrives at the
Scapular end of clavicle or near the outer third of the clavicle then
passes downwards and outwards in front of the first rib and then passes
to the Axilla and forms the Axillary Artery giving off in its course the
internal mammary and two intercostal arteries, also the inferior Thyroid
and Vertebral arteries. It is shorter than left subclavian.
February 21st 1863.
George C. Osgood.
[Board note in very light pencil]:
This candidate is slow but is tolerably posted, in all the branches; his
weak point is in practice, never having had any, or seen any except at
lecture.