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: Henry Halliard Smith, M.D.
Surgeon W. S. W. Ruschenburger
Boston Navy Yard
Sir
I was born in Liverpool Medina Co.
Ohio the 16th of June 1837. Was educated at the Chandler
Scientificate [sic] School at Hanover N. H.
Commenced the study of Medicine in
1856, with Dr S[amuel] G. Jarvis of Claremont, N.H. with whom I studied
one year. I finished a course of three years with Prof A. B Crosby of
Dartmouth Medical Coll. at Hanover N. H. of which College I am a
graduate Have been in private practice since I graduated which was in
the spring of 1859.
Yours Respectfully
Henry H Smith
Claremont, N. H.
Questions by the Board:
Dr. Henry H. Smith is requested to
write answers to the following questions.
1. What
organs are situated within the cavity of the chest?
2. What
is the object of the function of respiration?
3. How is
the brain supplied with blood?
4. What
are the diagnostic symptoms of typhoid fever?
5. What
are the diagnostic symptoms of compression of the brain?
6. Name
the officinal preparations of potassa, with the therapeutic use and dose
of each?
Answers by Smith:
1. Lungs + Heart
2. To aerate the Blood.
3. By the internal Carotid Artery.
4. The patient complains head ache,
pains in the back and limbs which may be of a dull an [sic] sharp
character. Chills + fever follow, or the disease may be ushered in with
a chill and then fever which may be accompanied with Delirium. Pulse
quick, but in a majority of cases not being hard.
Tongue coated with with [sic] a
yellowish white fur: This is thicker at the base. In some case’s [sic]
there is great sickness at the stomach attended efforts at vomiting, and
diarrhae [sic] fed [?] These Symptoms to the seventh day and then
gradually subside, an [sic] then may increase in intensity to the 14th
21st day. in the meantime the tongue becomes covered with
sordes an [sic] cracked, an [sic] also are the lips. The bowels become
tympantic [sic] and hemorhage [sic] is frequent. The delirium is of a
low grade. If the disease is to terminat [sic] favorably the tongue
begins to clear gradually from the tip and edges. The pulse gradually
falls. The bowels lose their tension and the patient begins as it seems
to wake up from a long sleep.
5. Complete loss of motion loss of
sensation. The body is cold and generally covered with a clamy [sic]
sweat. Pulse scarcely perceptible. Pupils dilated. Respiration
laborious with flushing of the cheeks. The Jugular Arteries [sic] are
full, and tense in some cases, and there is sometimes a congested state
of the conjunctiva.
6. Nitrate of Potassa –Nitre
Diuretic. Used in sometimes [sic] in dropsy, grs. V –
℈.
Chlorate of
Potassa.
Diuretic. Diaphoretic. Not
much used internally principally used as a detergent wash for the mouth
and throat.
Acetate of
Potassa.
Diuretic and Alterative
given in Dropsical affections also in Rheumatism in all stages. But the
best
results have from its use in
the Sub. Acute form. Dose grs XV. i℥
[?]
Potassa Sulphas. Not
much used except in preparing Dovers Powder
Potassa Cum. Calc.
Caustic
Henry H Smith
November. 18th 1863.
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
