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: Michael Coyle Drennan, M.D.
To the Naval Medical Board:
Gentlemen:
In answer to questions, I would
respectfully say, that I am twenty four years and five months old: I was
born in Easton, Northampton County, State of Pennsylvania: on the 10th
day of October, 1838.
My knowledge of Classics is confined
to the technical terms, used in Medicine. My scientific attainments are
my knowledge of the different sciences composing the “Science of
Medicine.” My education was commenced in the Public Schools of my native
place, and continued during my leisure hours, in after life: I am a
graduate of no literary institution:
I have been engaged in the Study of
Medicine, for nearly four and half years [sic]; one and a half years of
this period, I devoted exclusively to study: I studied with Doctor., C.
C. Field, in Easton, and attended lectures at the University of
Pennsylvania, Philada. I have passed an examination by the
Medical Faculty of that Institution, and have received notice from them,
that my examination has been satisfactory; the Diploma and Degree will
be confered [sic] on Saturday, March 14th 1863. My
opportunities for acquiring a knowledge of pharmacy, have been confined
to putting up prescriptions in the office of my Preceptor, and
witnessing those of a more complex character, as they were being put up
by druggists and pharmacuetists [sic, correction marks in pen]: My
knowledge of the physical properties of drugs, has been gained by
examining the specimens exhibited at the University of Penna, and in the
drug store to which I could gain access. For witnessing the practice of
Medicine and Surgery, I have had the opportunity of seeing a large
amount with my preceptor, and at the Clinics of the University of Penna,
and also, those of the Philadelphia Hospital. My knowledge of Natural
History is limited. The only modern language I have any knowledge of is
the German, as spoken in Pennsylvania. With regard to testimonials of
moral character, in addition to those already given you, I would refer
to the Medical Faculty of the University of Penna, to Doctor., D. Hayes
Agnew, No 16 North Eleventh Street, Phila… and to Doctor George N Van
Dyck: S.E. corner of Fourth + Christian Streets Phila
I know of nothing in regard to my
health, which would incapacitate me for discharging the duties of a
Medical Officer in the Navy:
My address in Philada, is
No 202 South Eleventh Street: The Post Office to which my Letters and
papers are directed is Easton, Penna.
Submitted with much respect,
Michael Coyle Drennan
Naval Asylum, Philada
March 7th 1863.
Questions by the Board:
Questions to be answered in writing,
by Dr. Michael C. Drennan
1. What is fracture, and what is the
rationale of union?
2. What are the means of arresting
hemorrhage?
3. What is flooding, and how is it
arrested?
4. What is Medical Jurisprudence?
5. What are the test for Arsenic?
6. What a test for Strychnia?
7. Describe the diagnosis and
treatment of Cancer?
8. Write, without abbreviations the officinal names of four
principle preparations of Mercury.
9. What is Copaiba? What its
effects as a Medicine? [sic]
Answers by Drennan:
1. A solution of continuity in a
bone; Union takes place through the exudation of Callus, called
ensheathing Callus.
2. Nature arrests hemorrhage by
producing syncope, and forming a clot; artificial means; are pressure,
cold, ligatures, styptics, and the actual cautery..
3. A sudden and profuse discharge of
blood from the womb: it very frequently follows the delivery of the
child; it sometimes occurs in the unimpregnated state of the womb; if
following delivery, it is arrested by friction over the abdomen, and the
administration of some of the preparations of Ergot, or the introduction
of a tampon into the vagina, bleeding from the arm is also
recommended: when it occurs in the unimpregnated womb, probably the best
remedy that can be used is a pill of one half to one grain of opium, in
combination with three to five grains of the Acetate of Lead, and given
every hour until the discharge decreases: the patient should remain
perfectly quiet, and in the horizontal position with the hips
moderately elevated:
4. The application of the principles
of medicine, to the investigation of criminal cases in Courts of
Justice;
5. Sulphuretted Hydrogen, Cyan**ch
[unclear] of Silver, also heat which causes the Arsenic to throw off a
Garlicky odor. There are other tests which I cannot now call to mind.
6. Tests for Strychnia are numerous,
Nitric Acid is the only one I can think of at the present moment.
7. Cancer is a peculiar morbid
development of the cells of the different issues and organs of the human
body; it is found most frequently, in the lower lid, penis and testicle
of the male, and the mammary glands and the uterus of the female. It is
divided into three varieties; if in the external parts of the body, it
commences with a small hard body about the size of a shot or small pea;
at first it causes no alarm to the patient, as it increases in size it
causes pain; and if not extirpated will run on to softening; after this
occurs, the patient becomes emaciated, his countenance wears an anxious
expression, he is not able to sleep, has no desire for food; the odor of
the discharge from the cancer, is very offensive. It cancer attack any
of the abdominal organs; it may sometimes be felt through the abdominal
parieties; and is attended with great pain, and a peculiar hue of the
skin which cannot well be described= diarrhea and vomiting are sometimes
attendant of it. To make an accurate diagnosis of this disease is very
difficult; acquiring an excellent knowledge of the forms of the cancer
cells, and even then it may be confounded with other morbid growths;
cancer cannot be cured; it may be removed but will invariably return;
the treatment of it is palliative; tonics are used to sustain strength,
and anodynes two allay pain; for this latter purpose, Hyoscyamus + the
conii are probably best as they will have an anodyne effect, without
producing constipation. To sustain the strength Cod liver oil, Sulphate
of Quinia, Bark, Iron and a bitter tonics may be used with advantage;
the patient should have cheerful society in order to keep his thoughts
as much as possible from his disease;
Life may be prolonged, by extirpating
the cancer, when it is first discovered; or if the patient have [sic] a
dread of an operation, as is often the case, we can then resort to
caustics; with equal success; among these latter means, Arsenious Acid
and Chloride of Zinc, are said by some to be the best=
8. Hydrargyri Chloridum Corrosium,
Hydrargyri Oxidum Nigram, Hydrargyri Chloridium Mite, Hydrargyrum cum
cretæ.
9. An oil improperly called a
balsam, obtained from the Copaiba Officinalus [sic, correction marks in
pencil]; is used as a stimulating diaphoretic; it increases the flow of
urine and alters its character;
Michael C. Drennan
Naval Asylum, Philada
March 13 1863
Certificate of Physical Capacity
I declare on honor that my health at
this time is 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, 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.
Michael
Coyle Drennan
Candidate for the office of
Assistant
Surgeon in the
Navy of the
United States.
U.S. Naval Asylum,
Philada March 7th
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
