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 93 applicants in this survey of U.S. Navy Applicants for 1863
Example of a handwritten exam given by the Navy Examination Board
Applicant:
R.
J. P. Goodwin
Navy Yard Boston July 20th
1863
W. S. W. Rushenberger
Surgeon U.S.N.
Dear Sir
I have the honor to submit the
following items in regard to birth, education etc.
Richard James Plummer Goodwin born in
Boston Mass. June 7th 1837 received my primary education in
the Public Schools of Boston where I remained from the age of four years
until Nov. 1856 when I entered the Medical Department of Harvard
University where I remained until 1859 during the above period of three
years I was also connected as pupil with the Tremont Medical School two
years, and the Lawrence Scientific School at Cambridge one year, in July
1861 I was admitted a Fellow of the Mass. Med. Society and continued in
private practice until Aug. 1862 when I was appointed Act. Asst. Surgeon
U.S.A. continuing in service until Mar. 1st 1863 when I
resigned on acct of sickness my family and received an honorable
discharge from the service.
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant
R. J. P. Goodwin
Questions by the Board:
Dr. R. J. P. Goodwin is requested to
write answers the following questions.
1. What is chyle,
where and how was it formed?
2. What is the
origin, course and distribution of the femoral artery?
3. What are the
diagnostic symptoms of typhoid fever?
4. What are the
officinal preparations of opium and the dose of each?
5. What substances
result from the chemical combination of oxygen with nitrogen?
6. Define the term
“temperature,” “latent heat,” and “specific gravity”.
Answers by Goodwin:
1. Chyle is a fluid of white color
and of consistency of cream, it is product of digestion both of animal
and vegetable substances. Food when taken into the mouth is reduced by
the action of the teeth into smaller particles, it also becomes mixed
with saliva a secretion from several small glands situated beneath the
tongue and sides of the mouth, which secretion exerts a chemical action
on various articles of food, having the power of converting starch into
dextrine or grape sugar it also serves to moisten the food and
facillitate [sic] its passage down the œsophagus into the stomach, after
entering the stomach it becomes mixed with the Gastric Juice a fluid
secreted from the orifices of small glands embedded in the mucous
membrane of the stomach, which converts the food into a homogeneous
fluid of the consistency and appearance of gruel, this fluid after a
variable time – which is acid passes into the duodenum and there is
mixed with the bile which is alkaline and secreted from the gall bladder
being propelled along the intestinal canal it is gradually absorbed by
small glands situated in the mucous membranse [sic] of the intestines
which take up only such portions as are capable of affording nutrition
to the body. This fluid which is now chyle is carried by small ducts to
the Lymphatic duct from whence it is carried into the blood to form new
corpuscles.
2. The aorta after passing down the
anterior part of the spinal column and within the cavity of the thorax
subdivides on its entrance within the pelvis into the right and left
iliac arteries which passing out the rings formed by the lower angle of
the internal oblique muscles and Pouparts ligament it is continued along
the course of the femur inwards and backwards where it subdivides at the
popliteal space
3. Typhoid Fever is characterized by
quick and rapid pulse, heat, thirst, furred tongue, tenderness of
abdomen, delirium. There is also a tendency to diarrhoea later in
disease.
4. Opium is prescribed both in the
solid and fluid states.
In the solid state it is used in
pills and powders. The dose of solid opium is one gr.
Sulph. Morphia and Acetate of Morphia
¼ gr Alcoholic Tincture of Opium the dose 30 gtt of the Camphorated
Tinct 1 dr. Pulv. Opium is also incorporated with Ipecac and Sulph of
Potassa forming Dover’s Powder that dose of which is x grs or less.
In cases where severe pain exists
larger doses may be administered with impunity.
5th Question not prepared
to answer
6. By the term “Temperature” we mean
the various degrees of heat or cold which a body possesses, taking
boiling water as a standard
By latent heat we understand an
inherent property which certain substances possess of developing an
intense heat when subjected to favorable circumstances.
Specific gravity is the known weight
of a given quantity of a fluid taking distilled water as a standard.
Rx
Carb. Ammonia grs x
Agua
Camphorata ℥
j
dose one tablespoonful
R. J. P.
Goodwin
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
