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: Rufus Payne Sawyer, M.D.
Boston Navy Yard Dec 26/63
Mr. Ruschenberger
Dear Sir
I was born at Gray, Maine on
the first day of October, Eighteen Hundred and Forty. Received a
Common School Education at Town schools and Fryeburg Academy.
Attending school untill [sic] May of Eighteen Hundred and Fifty nine,
When I commenced the Study of Medicine under the instruction of Dr. I
Chandler of Lowell Maine. I read three years in the office of Dr.
I Chandler and attended three courses of Lectures at Bowdoin Coll.
Medical School where I received my Degree in May Eighteen
Hundred and Six-two. In August of that same year I settled at No.
Fryeburg Maine and have practiced there since with the exception of
Attending two partial courses of Lectures.
Very Respectfully
Your most Obedient servant
R. P. Sawyer M.D.
Post-office address _ No.
Fryeburg Me.
[Board note in pencil, drawn
finger-pointing hand at note]:
Note:
Has a good deal of mental character. His calligraphy is not
indicative of this candidate’s information which is above the average.
He has gone to Fryburg a few days prior to reporting, in order to
close some private business
Questions by the Board:
Dr. Rufus B. Sawyer is
requested to write answers to the following questions.
1. Name the officinal preparations of potassium, and state the
therapeutic uses and dose of each? [sic]
2. What is meant by the term “chemical affinity”?
3. What are the surgical means of relieving retention of urine?
4. What are the diagnostic symptoms of scarlet fever?
5. What is chyle; by the functions of what organs is it formed?
6. Where does the portal vein arise?
Answers by Sawyer:
1. Iodid [sic] of Potassium
usefull [sic] in the Rheumatic + Scrofulous Inflammations, and in the
Tertiary symptoms of Syphilis, and as a denobstuent [sic, ?], both
locally an [sic] internally, in Morbic Groths [sic] and Adventitous
[sic] tissue. Dose 5 to 10 grs.
b Nitrate of Potash.
Arterial Sedative. Cooling Diaphoretic, Diminishing the Plasticity
of the Blood, hence a Powerfull [sic] Atiflogostic [sic] in Sthenic
Inflammations with hot dry skin and Frequent, quick, and hard pulse.
Dose 3 to 10 grs.
c Acetate of Potash
particular usefull [sic] in Acute Rheumatism. Dos [sic] 3 to 10 grs.
d Sulphate of
Potash used in preparation of Dovers Powder, mostly for mechanical
division of the other constituents, possibly aiding in the Diaphoretic
action of the Medicine.
2. Chemical Affinity,
is that Power which causes the union of two Elements to form a
Homogeneous Compound
3. Warm Bath.
Introduction of Catheter, Puncture of Bladder
4. By the Rash, from
other Eruptive Fevers by the appearance of the rash, and the period of
incubation
5. The Chyle is the
food after having undergone the process of Digestion, and is formed by
the functions of the Stomach, Liver, Duodenum and Pancreous [sic].
6. The portal vein
arises from the Chylo-Poyetic visera [sic]
R. P. Sawyer M.D.
Boston Naval Yard
Dec 26/63
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