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:
Jacob Jontz Smith, M.D.
To the Board of Medical Examiners
of the U.S. Navy.
I was born on the 9th day of February
1839 in Middletown State of Pennsylvania. My parents moved to the State
of Michigan when I was six years old I there attended the common
district schools untill [sic] the 17th year of my age I was
then sent to the Wesleyan Seminary located at Albion Michigan. Where I
studied English Grammar also Latin Grammar and Geography, Astronomy,
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Book keeping. Have not studied
Natural History. Am also unacquainted with any of the modern languages
except German.
I commenced the study of Medicine at
South Bend Indiana with J. M. Stover M.D.. I attended lectures in the
Medical Department of the University of Michigan for one full term and
am now attending a course – with the view of graduating – in the
Jefferson Medical College of this city
All the opportunities it I have had
in making myself acquainted with the Physical properties of drugs in the
practice of pharmacy is what I have seen and done in my preceptors
office. At the same place I observe the practice of Medicine and
Surgery
My address in Philadelphia is
Jefferson College and when at home South Bend Indiana.
Signed
Jacob J. Smith
December 24th 1863
Questions by the Board:
Questions to be answered in writing,
by Mr. Jacob J. Smith.
1. What is the difference between
Scarlatina + Rubeola?
2. Describe the course of whooping
cough.
3. Write a prescription without
symbols or abbreviations, for a mixture in Gonorrhœa.
4. What is the general distribution
of the Sympathetic Nervous System and what its function [sic]?
5. What is the chemical constitution
of olive oil?
6. Give an account of Ipecacuanha,
its source varieties, properties, preparations + uses.
7. Describe the thoracic duct and
its function.
8. What is the course of the crural
hernia and its coverings?
9. What are the Stages of syphilis
and their treatment?
Answers by Smith:
1st Ans. x The
forming stages are so nearly allied as not to be easily distinguished
with certainty. Generally in scarlatina the skin is hot to the touch
and the pulse runs high and quick and as the disease advances the throat
is complained off [sic, correction marks in pencil]. In rubeola the
fever is less severe accompied [sic] as time progresses with more or
less cough and pectoral difficulty. In scarlatina the eruption appears
generally on the third or fourth date and then at first in a glow over
the body in diffused patches shortly the eruption appears. In rubeola
eruption seldoms [sic] appear before the
fifth or sixth day and is always in circumscribed
and raised on the surface with hardened bases. They first appear on the
face then on the chest and body subsequently on the extremities I [sic]
scarlatina as the disease advances the pulse continues to be quick and
runs from 130 to 160 per minute in bad cases the throat inflames and
swells dreadfully and on account breathing is accomplished with
difficulty
In rubeola the pulse is not so high
and skin comparatively in good condition. we have always in severe
cases pectoral difficulties. In several cases of Scarlatina we may have
a metastasis of the inflamation [sic] in the throat to the membranes of
the brain Coma and delirium then puts an end to the suffering patient.
In rubeola the mucous lining of the air tubes may be close [sic] by an
accumulation of phlegm cause by inflamation [sic, correction marks in
pencil] of the same causing death by asphyxia
2nd Ans. Whooping cough may occur sporadical or epidemical. It begins with more
or less indisposition, the cough occurs spasmodical [sic, correction
marks in pencil] and at spells with great severity causing vomiting and
gasping for breath face often livid and veins congested about the face
and head. the coughed it is generally held to be caused by the
spasmotic [sic, correction marks in pencil] contraction of the
diaphragm The termination is favorable in most cases. seldom does the
cough excite inflamation [sic, correction marks in pencil] in the bronci
[sic, correction mark in pencil] and produce bronchisis [sic correction
marks in pencil] or other pulmonary diseases.
3rd Ans.
Recerpt [sic] for Gonorrhœa
Balsam
Copoebia [sic] one ounce
Sweet
Spirit of Niter half an ounce
Gum
Arabic half an ounce
White
Sugar half an ounce
Tincture
of Opium four drachms
Cinnamon
water sixteen ounces
Titurate [sic, correction mark
in pencil] the Copoebia [sic] well with the arabic and sugar after which
add the other ingredients and direct 4 teaspoons 4 times a day
4th Ans.
It is distributed to all the
cranial and spinal nerves as they make their way exit from the various
foramina, and accompany the arteries in their various ramications [sic,
correction mark in pencil]. its function is mostly that of reflex
action
5th Ans. It is
composed of Carbon and Hydrogen
6th Ans.
Ipecacuanha its principle [sic, correction marks in pencil] source is
from Brazil There are numerous varieties a dozen or more dont [sic] know
the precise numbers. Is a plant the root of which is used in medicine
Preparations are the wine, Tincture syrup and Dovers powder
Used as an emetic, expectorant and as
an altrtive [sic, correction marks in pencil]
7th It is composed
of the various lymphatic tubes which converge and unite to form the
thoracic duct oposite [sic, correction marks in pencil] the second
lumbar vertrabae [sic, correction marks in pencil]. it ascends along
the spinal column and empties into the Subclavian vein in the angle
formed by the internal jugular vein, its uses to convey the lymph
to the vein.
8th Cural [sic,
correction mark in pencil] Hernia escapes through the crual [sic]
ring its course is first downward then forward then upward. its
coverings are first from without inward 1 skin 2 Superficial facia [sic]
3 cribiform [sic, correction marks in pencil] facia [sic]. 4 Facia
[sic] propia [sic, correction marks in pencil] 5 Septum curale [sic,
correction marks in pencil]. 6 peritoneum.
9th Ans. The
stages of syphilis are three. 1 primary 2 secondary 3 tertiary. In the
first place cauterise [sic] the sore if the patient presents himself
within five days from his exposure then treated as any other sore
if the secondary symptoms present as
buboes and eruptions on the skin. for buboes we poltice [sic, correction
marks in pencil] or foment with warm water and aply [sic, correction
marks in pencil] an ointment of Nitrate of mercury diluted and
internally a mixture of Iodide of Potash and bichoride [sic, correction
marks in pencil] of Mercury. In the third stage we support the system
by nourishing food and give medicine to eliminate the poison.
Signed
Jacob J. Smith
December 28th 1863
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.
Jacob J Smith
Candidate for the office of
Assistant Surgeon in the Navy of the
United States
U.S. Naval Asylum Philada
}
December 24, 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