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:
Rufus Payne Sawyer, M.D.
Boston Navy Yard Dec 26/63
Mr. Ruschenberger
Dear Sir
I was born at Gray, Maine on the
first day of October, Eighteen Hundred and Forty. Received a Common
School Education at Town schools and Fryeburg Academy. Attending school
untill [sic] May of Eighteen Hundred and Fifty nine, When I commenced
the Study of Medicine under the instruction of Dr. I Chandler of Lowell
Maine. I read three years in the office of Dr. I Chandler and attended
three courses of Lectures at Bowdoin Coll. Medical School where I
received my Degree in May Eighteen Hundred and Six-two. In
August of that same year I settled at No. Fryeburg Maine and have
practiced there since with the exception of Attending two partial
courses of Lectures.
Very Respectfully
Your most Obedient servant
R. P. Sawyer M.D.
Post-office address _ No. Fryeburg
Me.
[Board note in pencil, drawn
finger-pointing hand at note]:
Note:
Has a good deal of mental character. His calligraphy is not indicative
of this candidate’s information which is above the average. He
has gone to Fryburg a few days prior to reporting, in order to close
some private business
Questions by the Board:
Dr. Rufus B. Sawyer is requested to
write answers to the following questions.
1. Name the
officinal preparations of potassium, and state the therapeutic uses and
dose of each? [sic]
2. What is meant by
the term “chemical affinity”?
3. What are the
surgical means of relieving retention of urine?
4. What are the
diagnostic symptoms of scarlet fever?
5. What is chyle; by
the functions of what organs is it formed?
6. Where does the
portal vein arise?
Answers by Sawyer:
1. Iodid [sic] of Potassium usefull
[sic] in the Rheumatic + Scrofulous Inflammations, and in the Tertiary
symptoms of Syphilis, and as a denobstuent [sic, ?], both locally an
[sic] internally, in Morbic Groths [sic] and Adventitous [sic] tissue.
Dose 5 to 10 grs.
b Nitrate of Potash. Arterial
Sedative. Cooling Diaphoretic, Diminishing the Plasticity of the Blood,
hence a Powerfull [sic] Atiflogostic [sic] in Sthenic Inflammations with
hot dry skin and Frequent, quick, and hard pulse. Dose 3 to 10 grs.
c Acetate of Potash particular
usefull [sic] in Acute Rheumatism. Dos [sic] 3 to 10 grs.
d Sulphate of Potash used
in preparation of Dovers Powder, mostly for mechanical division of the
other constituents, possibly aiding in the Diaphoretic action of the
Medicine.
2. Chemical Affinity, is that Power
which causes the union of two Elements to form a Homogeneous Compound
3. Warm Bath. Introduction of
Catheter, Puncture of Bladder
4. By the Rash, from other Eruptive
Fevers by the appearance of the rash, and the period of incubation
5. The Chyle is the food after
having undergone the process of Digestion, and is formed by the
functions of the Stomach, Liver, Duodenum and Pancreous [sic].
6. The portal vein arises from the
Chylo-Poyetic visera [sic]
R. P. Sawyer M.D.
Boston Naval Yard
Dec 26/63
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
