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: David B. Pickering, M.D.
U.S. Ship Vermont
Port Royal Harbor, S.C.
Oct. 2nd 1863.
Gentlemen:
In compliance with an order of Rear
Admiral Dahlgren, directing that Surgeon’s Steward, David B. Pickering,
of the Bark “Midnight,” be examined (if he be not over 30 years of age)
by a Board of Medical Officers, “as by his physical and professional
qualifications” for appointment as an Acting Asst. Surgeon in the Navy
of the United States, you are hereby appointed the Board of Examination,
and will forward to me the result of his examination for transmission to
the Admiral.
Very respectfully,
Your obdt. Servt.
Wm Reynolds
Comdr. + Senior Officer
Surgeon Chas. Eversfield, “Vermont”
Asst. “ Ewd M. Stein,
“Weehawken”
A. “ “ I. Solis
Cohen, “Vermont”
[Abstract
on reverse, in pen]:
Oct 3, 1863
Report of medical board on
qualifications of Surg. Std D. B. Pickering for act Asst Surg.
D. B. Pickering
1863
[in pen, additional filing
information not interpretable]
U.S. Ship Vermont
Port Royal Harbor, S.C.
October 3, 1863
Sir:
In compliance with the order of the 2nd
inst; we have examined Surgeon’s Steward David B. Pickering, of the Bark
Midnight, as to his physical and professional qualifications for the
position of Actg. Asst. Surgeon in the Navy of the United States; and
find him with the requisite physical qualifications, but professionally
entirely unfit for the position
We are Very Respectfully
Your Obedt. Servants
C. Eversfield, Surgeon
Edw M Stein, Asst Surg
J. Solis Cohen A. A. Surgn
Commander Wm Reynolds
Senior Officer Present
Port Royal Hr
S.C.
Forwarded
JA Dahlgren
Rear Admiral
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