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: Edwin Howard Vose, M.D.
Navy Yard
Charlestown Mass.
Nov 30, 1863.
Dear Sir:
Wishing to obtain an appointment as
Acting Assistant Surgeon in the Navy I make the following statements
concerning my birth, education and opportunities for Learning. I was
born at Robbinston in the state of Maine on the 20th of
August 1838. My education has been for the most part obtained in the
town school of the place of my birth, excepting one year when I attended
the Academy at Calais, taking a course of Latin and Greek with the idea
of entering College. This I gave up and after sometime spent as clerk,
I commenced the study of Medicine. I entered my name with Dr. JA Holmes
and Dr. Charles Edwan, at Calais and have studied under that their
direction till this time.
During the time since entering my
name which I omitted to state was in the first of April 1861 I have
attended one course of Lectures at the Medical School of Maine at
Bowdoin College, and am at present attending the Lectures of the
Medical School of Massachusetts at Harvard University, where I have been
for about four weeks.
My opportunities for practice or
seeing practice have been in visits with my instructors to their
patients. in attending to patients at the office + at their houses to
some extent and in assisting at surgical operations such as are to be
performed in a practice among a population of about 12000. Among these
were a number of amputations, extracting tumors etc.
I had the opportunity of performing
many of the operations of Minor Surgery myself, and have had a little
obstetrical practice. My means having been very Limited, I have not
been able to enjoy as much of the advantages of lectures + cas [sic] I
could wish, being obliged in a great measure to depend on my own
energies to obtain my education. In addition to these opportunities
have been those afforded by examining recruits for the Army, and some
practice in the treatment of Venereal disease. Such has been my
education thus far.
Yours Very Resply
Edwin Howard Vose
Calais Maine
Dr. W.S.W. Reschenburger,
}
Surgeon U.S.N. }
Questions by the Board:
Mr. E. Howard
Vose is requested to write answers to the following questions.
1. What are
the diagnostic symptoms of colic, and what are the indications of its
treatment?
2. Name the
officinal preparations of iron with a dose of each? [sic]
3. What are
the diagnostic symptoms of fractured femur?
4. What is the
function of the pancreas?
5. Name the
bones which form the cranium? [sic]
6. What is the
composition and weight of atmospheric air?
Answers by Vose:
Ans. 1. Colic
The symptoms of Colic are usually, a
feeling of Malaise and uneasiness in the bowels sometimes extending to
the stomach, with perhaps some nausea though not constantly, soon
followed, often suddenly by severe griping pains in the region of the
umbilicus, gently occurring spasmodically. With this there is often
distention of the bowels by gases, and usually constipation to a
considerable degree. These are followed in many cases by retching and
vomiting with eructations of gas, and bile is thrown off in considerable
quantity. The points which distinguish it from Enteritis or Peritonitis
are, the comparatively circumscribed area of pain and the fact that in
colic the pain is more of a spasmodic character and is relieved by
pressure, which in Enteritis or Peritonitis it is aggravated by the
slightest touch. The decubitus is also varied while in Enteritis the
patient almost invariably lies on his back with the legs flexed on the
body.
The indications of treatment are to
allay pain and spasm, correct the secretions and obviate the
constipation. Hence Opium combined with Hydrag sub mur, or followed in
a short time by an active cathartic. Sometimes relief is afforded at
once by a stimulant emetic, if there is offending matter in the stomach.
Ans. 2. Preparations and doses of
Iron.
1.
Ferrum per Hydrogen,
Dose, gr V
ad. ℈j
2.
Ferri
Ammoniata " gr
ij
ʺ V
3.
ʺ Ferrocyanasata
[sic] " gr
ij
ʺ V
4.
"
Carbonas " gr
V
ʺ ʓss
5.
ʺ Phosphas
" gr
iij
to
vj
6.
" Citras
" gr iij
to
X
7.
" Sulphas
" gr j
ʺ V
8.
" Tinc. Muriatis
" gtt
V " f
ʓss
9.
ʺ Iodidi Syrupi
" gtt X
" f ʓj
10.
" Sol. Per Sulph.
" gtt j
" ij
Ans. 3. Symptoms of fractured
fever.
There are [sic] shortening of the
limb produced in the length of the bone itself. Loss of power of
walking or moving the limb. Swelling over the point of fracture and
crepitus heard and felt on moving the ends of the bone upon each other,
also preternatural motion in the bone, between its articulations, and
usually inversion or eversion of the foot.
Ans. 4. Function of the Pancreas.
This gland is known to be a secretory
gland, and produces a thin light colored secretion which is poured into
the duodenum near the opening from the biliary ducts. The use of the
secretion is to modify the chyme and aid in its change into chyle. It
is supposed to have a solvent power over the fatty matter passed through
the alimentary canal, rendering them more capable of assimilation in the
system.
Ans. 5. Bones of the cranium.
1. Os.
Occipitalis. 2nd Ossa parietalia.
3. Ossa Temporalia. 4. Os Sphenoides
5. Os. Ethmoides
Ans. 6. Composition of
Atmospheric Air.
Nitrogen
about 71 parts in 100.
Oxygen
ʺ 29 ʺ ʺ ʺ
With some
carbonic acid and watery vapor.
100 cubic inches
weighing 31.5 + grains.
Edwin Howard Vose
Navy Yard, Boston.
Nov 30th 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
