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 Freebern Gavin, M.D.
I was born in the town of Roscommon
(which town is the capitol of the county which bears the same name)
Ireland, on the 12th of May 1843. I received my primary
education in the town of my birth. I left my home in September 1856 and
came to New York City where I remained for a brief period, after which I
came to Boston where I have remained since. I finished my education
with a private teacher in Boston.
Some time during the year 1859 I comminced [sic] the study of medicine,
with a late Dr. T. R. Owens of this city under whos tutorship I remained
until the late part of the year 1861: I then comminced studing [sic]
with Dr. John G. Blake of this city and entered the Harvard Medical
College where I have attended three winter terms and one summer term in
the so called Tremont Medical school of this city, during the interval
between the ending of the winter term and the commincement [sic] of the
same I have attended the Boston Dispensary and part of the time was
assistant to the Surgeon of that institution. It is my intention to
graduate in the ensueing [sic] Spring. I have also attended at the
visit [sic] at the Mass. Gen. Hospital which take place daily: during
the past three years I have attended all the operation which has
+ Dr. Cheever [at the bottom of the
first page of the Bio sketch]
[page two] taken place at the Mass.
Gen. Hospital.
Michael Freebern
Gavin
P.O. Boston
Boston,
Or,
M. F. Gavin
Cor. Federal Purchase
Boston, Sts
September 9th 1863
[Board note in pencil]:
Mr. Gavin was examine July
30, 1862 and rejected. He has been a diligent student in the
past 13 months, and is recommended for general character by Dr. O. W.
Holmes. He is a few months more than 20 years of age only; but has
acquired a fair foundation for becoming an efficient and safe
practitioner, if he may be judged by oral examination.
W.S.W.R.
Questions by the Board:
Mr. M. F. Gavin is requested to write
answers to the following questions.
1. What parts are
concerned in the formation of the ankle joint?
2. What is chyle and
how was it formed?
3. What are the
diagnostic symptoms of dysentery?
4. Name one of each
class of the materia medica? [sic]
5. What is chemical
affinity?
6. What is Strychnia?
Answers by Gavin:
1. The following named bones go to
make the ankle joint; the tibia articulates with the astragalus as dose
[sic] also that part of the fibula called the external malleolus, the
bones are held in place by the ligaments of the ankle + covered with
skin
2. Chyle is a milky looking fluid
and is formed from the food, it owes it is [sic] white colour to the
minute division of the oily part of the food. The peristaltic action of
the stomach keeping the food continually in motion during digestion
accounts for the minute division of the oily part of the food the chyle
is the nurshing [sic] part of food
3. Pain all over abdomen and
increased in making [? unclear] stools; stools liquid and sometimes
tinged with blood; generally the pulse is accelerated and the skin hot
and dry; bowels very loose
4. Cathartic Calomel in 10 grain. Jalep. Arterial sedative – Foxglove. Diuretic all the Salts of Potassa:
Diaphoretic Spts. Minderi and Spts. Nitre Dulc; Narcotic Opium,
febrifuge Sulphate Quin; vermifuge Spts Turpentin; emenagogue [sic]
Myrrh; Tonic all the preparation of iron and bark; stimulant ammonia and
its preparations
5. Is the attraction which bodies
have for each other
6. Strychnia – is the active
principle of the Nux Vomica.
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
