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: John McDowell Rice, M.D.
I was born in Philadelphia March 19th
1841, and I have passed most of my life since in this city. After
attending school and following my studies under the direction of my
father, I entered the Literary department of the University of
Pennsylvania September 1855. Having entered the Freshman Class, I
remained four years in College, and graduated in 1859.
In the fall of the same year I
matriculate it in the medical department of the University and attended
my first regular course of lectures during the session of 1859 – 60. I
had before this attended some lectures on surgery by Prof. Smith. I
attended three courses of lectures and in the spring of 1862 I graduated
and received my degree.
After spending some weeks in this
city and neighborhood, I received permission from the Surgeon General US
Army, to appear before a Board of Army Surgeons to be examined for the
position of Medical Cadet USA. On the twenty first day of May 1862, I
was examined in Washington, approved, and ordered to report for duty.
My first orders were for Cliffurne [sic] Hospital. This was just after
the battle of Williamsburg, and the hospital was full of Rebel wounded
who had been taken prisoners by our troops. Hardly had I reported for
duty when my orders were revoked and I was sent to Colombian College
Hospital, and on May 26th/62 went on duty there. I have been
stationed at this Hospital ever since. In June 1862 I was put in full
charge of a ward containing eighty two patients, and besides this I had
two hospital tents, with fifteen patients. These were not
convalescents, but in many cases direct from the field. I have had
under treatment at one time 50 surgical cases. Up to the time I left
Washington I have had charge of this
ward.
Jno McD Rice.
Questions by the Board:
Questions to be answered in writing,
by Dr. Jno McD. Rice.
1. What is the Surgical Anatomy of
the Carotid Artery?
2. What is Amaurosis, + how
distinguished from Cataract?
3. How is compression of the brain
distinguished from concussion?
4. Does muscular pressure have any
influence in assisting or retarding the circulation and if so, how?
5. Is there more or less venous to
arterial blood, and why are their two venae comites to one artery?
6. Do the auricles and ventricles
contract simultaneously or in what manner?
7. Is there anything specific in the
character of typhus and typhoid fever?
8. What is the law diffusion of
gases?
9. What is atomic theory?
Answers by Rice:
1. The Carotid Artery is the main
arterial trunk of the neck. On the right side it springs from the
innominate artery, a branch from the arch of the aorta. On the left
side it comes direct from the aorta. It ascends the neck in almost a
vertical direction and when a opposite the upper border of the thyroid
cartilage it divides into the internal and external carotids. The
internal ascends to the interior of the cranium where it forms part of
the circle of Willis at the base of the brain. The external carotid
gives off branches to the face + neighboring parts and then divides into
the temporal arteries. The Carotid Artery in ascending the neck passes
through a complex region which for convenience of description has been
divided into triangles. The two main triangles are on the anterior + a
posterior. The anterior is bounded by the median line of the neck in
front, the underline of the jaw, above, + the sterno-cleido-mastoid
muscle behind. The posterior triangle is bounded, in front by the
sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle, behind the edge of the trapezius muscle,
and below the clavicle. These triangles are further divided by the omo-hyoid
muscle crossing the sterno-mastoid muscle in passing from the shoulder
to the hyoid bone. The artery in the first part of its course lies in
the posterior inferior triangle. It then ascends, passes behind the
sterno-mastoid muscle and enters the anterior inferior triangle. In its
course it is enclose in a comon [sic, correction marks in pencil] sheath
with the internal jugular vein, and pneumogastric nerve. The vein lies
on the inner side of the artery partly overlapping it, and the nerve
posteriorly, and between the vessels. When the artery is tied in case
of its being wounded, the point of selection is generally below the
sterno-mastoid muscle, before it passes [“*” in pencil in
margin] under it.
2’d. Amaurosis is a disease
condition of the nervous structure of the eye, in which, though the eye
may appear healthy, there is partial or total loss of sight. It may be
caused by a blow or injury to the eye, or it may come on more slowly
from disease. Sometimes it may be confounded with cataract when the
latter is not fully developed. The diagnosis may be made between them
by the Catoptic test. This consists in holding a lighted candle before
the eye. In cataract the lense [sic, correction marks in pencil] being
more or less opaque we see but two images of the candle one reflected
upon the surface of the cornea + the other upon the anterior surface of
the lense [sic, correction marks in pencil]. In Amaurosis the lense
[sic, correction marks in pencil] being perfectly clear, there may be
seen three images of the candle the third being formed upon the
posterior surface of the lense [sic, correction marks in pencil], and in
an inverted position.
3d Compression of
the brain may be distinguished from a Concussion by the following
diagnostic signs. In Compression the patient lies perfectly insensible
+ cannot be roused or made to answer any questions. In concussion he
may be partly roused. In compression the breathing is labored +
stertorous, and the pulse full and bounding, in concussion the breathing
is quiet and the pulse feeble. In Compression the pupil of the eye is
dilated, while in concussion it may be dilated or contracted, but
generally is contracted
4th Muscular
pressure has considerable influence in assisting the circulation, by
compressing the vessels during the contraction of a muscle. This power
is especially exerted upon the veins from the yielding nature of their
coats, more than upon the arteries. When a muscle contracts it lessens
the size of the vein and forces the blood along the vessel. From the
veins being supplied with valves the blood cannot pass backwards, so it
must flow forwards or towards the heart. When the muscle relaxes the
veins again returns to its normal size.
5th In the human
body the amount of venous blood is greater than that of arterial blood.
Arteries are supplied with two venae comites in order that the
circulation may not be interupted [sic, correction marks in pencil] by
pressure, from whatever cause it may arise. If one vein is temporarily
obstructed the blood may return by the other and so no mischief result.
If there were but one vein in an expose situation the circulation would
suffer, + a stasis of blood take place in the particular part. Where
the artery is more protected we find but one vein accompanying it.
6th The auricles
and ventricles by their contraction propel the blood through the
arteries to different parts of the body. In their contraction the
auricles contract simultaneously, and force the blood into the
ventricles. The ventricles contracted the same time and force the blood
into the pulmonary arteries and the aorta.
7th Typhus and
Typhoid fever are by the English Authors considered identically the
same. There may be observed however to differ in many particulars
[sic]. In typhoid fever we always have a specific lesion which exist as
surely as we have the disease. This lesion does not follow as a matter
of course in Typhus fever.
It consists in the inflammation and
ulceration of Peyers glands, called also the agminated glands which are
found in the small intestines, most numerous however in the ilium, near
the ileo-cæcal valve. This ulceration may even go so far as to produce
perforation of the intestine and an escape of fæcal matter into the
cavity of the peritoneum.
8th Gases are the
most diffusible of all bodies. They are considered to exist, of
particles which mutually repel each other. If the gas be allowed to
escape into a vacuum it diffuses itself equally throughout the whole
vessel, into which it may be discharge. When gas may have a greater or
less affinity for another, and may mix intimately with it even though
one is much heavier than the other. This is exemplified in the case of
hydrogen and oxygen gases which if put into separate bottles one above
the other connected by a tube, and the hydrogen will have descended into
the lower bottle and part of the oxygen will ascend to take its place.
9th By the atomic
theory we understand that all bodies are composed of minute particles or
atoms which may have a greater or less affinity for each other. Thus a
metalic [sic] bar is composed of particles, side by side. If a force be
exerted at one end it is communicated from the first particle to the
second, and so on till it impresses the body with which it may be in
contact. In solids the particles have a greater affinity for each other
than the particles of a liquid.
By the atomic theory of light, we
understand, that a voluminous body throws off constantly minute
particles resembling itself which striking upon the retina produce their
impression. This theory is however now superseeded [sic correction
marks in pencil] by the undulatory theory.
Jno McD Rice.
Certificate of Physical Capacity
I declare, on honor, that my health
is at this time good and robust, and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I am free from any accidental or constitutional defects, and
without any predisposition to Epilepsy, Phthisis, Gout, Apoplexy, or
chronic disease of any kind.
I am not at present, affected with
varicocele, disease of the urinary organs, hernia, or hemorrhoids, nor
am I aware that there is anything hereditary in my constitution which
would hereafter, be likely, to incapacitate me for the arduous duties of
a Medical Officer of the Navy.
All my organs of sense are without
imperfection.
Jno. McD. Rice
U.S. Naval Asylum, Philada
}
March 31st 1863. }