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: Joseph Warren Shively, M.D.
U.S. Naval Asylum
Philadelphia Penna
September 2nd 1863
Gentlemen:
I received my Commission, as Asst
Surgeon in the United States Navy, on the 4th of March
1861, and on the 28th day of April following, I
received orders to report for duty, on the late, U.S.S. “Mississippi”,
then fitting out at Boston. I reported on the 10th of
May agreeably to the order. On the 27th of the same
month, we sailed for the ‘Gulf’, being one of the first vessels to leave
for the blockade. We arrived on our station on the 10th
of June following. And from that period until the 1st of
April 1862, we successively blockaded off Pensacola, Mobile, Ship Island
and Pass à l’outre. We succeeded in crossing the “bar” on the 10th
of April, and took part in the taking of forts Jackson and St. Phillipe,
as well as New Orleans. During the summer of 1863 we did service in the
river.
About the 1st of March
1863, I left the vessel in consequence of sickness and remained at New
Orleans. On the 21st of the same month, I was ordered
North, in the Naval Transport “Fair Haven”, in charge of the sick of the
squadron, and as medical officer to the paroled crews of the “Harriet
Lane” and “Queen of the West, ” who was sent home in that vssel [sic].
I arrived in New York on the 10th
of April 1863, and was granted leave of absence for six weeks, in which
time I regain my health completely. On 28th of May
last, I reported for duty on board the U.S.S Ironclad Frigate “Roanoke”,
and preceded in her to Fortress Monroe. I was detached on the 22nd
day of July, and reported on the 24th for duty at the
U.S. Naval Asylum Hospital, Philadelphia, agreeably to orders.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
J. W. Shively, Asst. Surgeon, U.S.
Navy
Surgeons
Pres. of Med. Board of Exam
James M. Greene
Members
A. A. Henderson
Benj. Vreeland
Questions by the Board:
Questions to be answered in writing,
by Asst Surgeon Joseph W. Shively U.S.N.
1. Give a brief description of the
operation of castration.
2. Write a formula without symbols,
or abbreviations, for a compound infusion of senna.
3. What is it differs between a
furuncle + anthrax?
4. What is the composition of
Ammoniae Carbonas (U. S.) + mode of preparation? How and for what
conditions is it prescribed?
5. What is the treatment for
poisoning by Bichloride of Mercury? What steps will prove the presence
of this substance?
6. Describe the nature and purposes
of the urinary secretions.
7. Give the anatomical structure of
the testis.
8. What are the symptoms of Podagra?
9. Give the symptoms of Posterior
Dislocation of the Femur.
Answers by Shively:
1st Separate the
testicle to be operated on, from its fellow, and make tense the skin,
make an incision from the external abdominal ring downwards, over the
tremon [?], of sufficient length, separate the cord from its
accompanying structures and divide it. Then dissect the testicle from
the scrotum. The cord may be included in a ligature en masse, as the
artery separated and tied with a fine ligature. –
2nd
Recipe Sennae unciam
Magnesiae Sulphatis
semi unciam
Foeniculi
drachmas quatuor
Aquae bullientis
Octarium
Mascera per horas duas
3rd A furuncle
is a circumscribed inflammation of the skin, or cellular tissue
proceeding to suppuration. The pus being contained within the cavity
formed by the liquefication of the tissues. In anthrax the inflammation
leads to gangrene of the cellular tissue, which separates in shreds or
masses.
4th The
composition of carbonate of ammonia is expressed by the following
formula 2NH3HO.3CaO2. It
may be obtained by subliming carbonate of lime and chloride of ammonium.
It is given in the form of a
solution, in doses from two to ten grains, every two, three or four
hours.
In sudden prostration, in pneumonia
when support and stimulation become necessary. In cases where some
accustomed stimulus has been withdrawn, sickheadache, and in cases where
a diffusible stimulant it is indicated. He
5th Administer
the white of eggs, or gluten obtained by washing flour, or flour itself
in large quantities. Emetics and the stomach pump may likewise be
employed, and afterwards a dose of castor oil.
Corrosive sublimate is directed in
solution, by adding a solution of nitrate of silver, a white precipitate
– chloride of silver – is thrown down, which soon blackens on exposure.
This proves the presence of chlorine. A few drops placed on a polished
metallic surface, and touch with the point of a knife, if it be gold
forms an amalgam with the metal, volatilized by heat. This proves the
presence of Mercury.
6th The urine
is a liquid product, separated from the system by the kidneys. It
consists mainly of water, holding in solution various salts, and mucus.
In health it has an acid reaction and average specific gravity of 1020.
It subserves the important purpose of separating the waste products
generated within the system, from the blood, and such foreign
substances, as may gain entrance from time to time into the body through
food and drink.
7th The testis
is composed of tunics, blood vessels, and glandular structure. The
tunica albuginiea surrounds the gland, and is composed of a serous and
fibrous layer. The latter enters the testis posteriorly, and traverses
the organ in various directions, forming spaces in which the tubuli
semmiferi are found. These tubes interlace posteriorly, and formed the
rete testis, and by their union and convolutions convolutions [sic, on
prior page] the epididymitis, – composed of the globus major and minor –
and finally the vas deferens.
8th Gout usually
begins, after some excess in eating or drinking, during the night, with
violet pains, usually seated in the ball of the great toe. The parts
soon becomes red, swollen and excessively tender on pressure. The
constitutional symptoms are fever, furred tongue, scanty and high
colored urine. After a variable time the paroxysm subsides, with an
interval of comparative rest. These paroxysms follow each other,
gradually becoming less and less severe, until the disease passes off.
9th In the
Illeo-sciatric variety, which is upward + backwards, there is inversion
of the limb, the great toe of injured side pointing to the ankle of
sound limb, the axis of the femur pointing to sound knee – shortening
from two to three inches or more. When the head of the femur is
thrown into the sciatic notch the axis of the femur of the injured side
points to the middle of sound one. There is inversion and shortening,
but not so great as in the proceeding. In both cases the hip is
distorted, and the trochanter and head of the bone are felt out of their
usual position.
Respectfully Submitted
J. W. Shively, Asst. Surgeon, U.S.
Navy.
Naval
Asylum
Sept. 4th
1863.
Pericarditis
Asst Surgn
Joseph W. Shively, U.S.N
Pericarditis is an inflammation of
the pericardium. It likewise involves the muscular substance of the
heart to a greater or lesser degree. It may exist as a single disease,
or be a concomitant of Endocarditis, Rheumatism or Bright's Disease of
the kidney. As connected with rheumatism, it may be metastatic from
some other structure, as a joint, or may arise from the same caused that
produces inflammation in other parts. Its existence when associated
with rheumatism is liable to be overlooked, unless special attention
being directed to the heart.
It may be ushered in with a chill,
followed by fever, with its usual symptoms, as dry hot skin, lightly
furred tongue and loss of appetite. There is usually more or less pain
referring to the pericardia, increased on pressure or deep inspiration.
The pulse, if the fever be sthenic, is accelerated and full, feeble and
compressible in the opposite condition. It may be a regular and
intermittent likewise. Dyspnoea is often severe and paroxysmal in its
character. The nervous symptoms are often distressing, headache,
perspiration, and restlessness. The countenance is anxious. The
physical symptoms as revealed by auscultation are conclusive. They
consist of murmurs, or sounds produced by the rubbing together of the
roughened opposite surfaces of the pericardium. The sounds thus
produced are termed "friction sounds". Dr. Watson terms them the " to
and fro" sounds. The same sound is produced by the pleura under similar
conditions. The one produced by the pericardium, is distinguished from
the pleural, by continuing, when the patient holds his breath. This
sounds ceases on the gluing together of the opposing surfaces, by the
lymph thrown out between them, or when they are separated by the
effusion of liquids
Percussion is valuable in the later
stages of the disease, revealing the existence of the effusion, or the
progress of its absorption. When effusion exist [sic], the pyriform sac
enveloping the heart becomes distended, and the apex instead of being
below, as in health, becomes reversed.
The adhesion between the two layers
may be partial or complete. Watson and some other authors regard the
adhesion as ultimately leading to a fatal end, while Flint and others
believe life to be in no great degree shortened thereby.
Treatment. If the character of the
affection be sthenic, with high inflammatory symptoms, blood may be
taken from the arm, or locally by means of cups.
Mercury may be given with a view of
preventing the effusion, or hastening the absorption of lymph. It may
be combined with opium. An active purge in the beginning of the disease
is always proper. Tarter emetic may be given in 1/12 or 1/8 grain doses
every hour or two if the fever is considerable. Veratrum viride might
likewise be given under the circumstances. Digitalis is a very important
remedy. Care should be exercised that its depressing effects not be
carried too far.
For the nervous symptoms, opium,
velarium and assafoetida can be employed. When the disease occurs in
connection with rheumatism the remedies proper for that disease may be
given.
Blisters are important agents in the
treatment of this disease. They should be employed in the beginning of
the disease. They may be placed over the heart, or perhaps preferably
to one side, to allow physical exploration of the organ.
When liquid has accumulated in the
pericardium, diuretics and hydrogogue cathartics are called for, or
paracentesis cordis performed.
Respectfully Submitted
J. W. Shively
Asst Surgeon
U.S. Navy
