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: Benjamin F. Hamell, M.D.
I was born in the 16th day
of June 1840 A.D. in the town of Camden, State of New Jersey.
Was sent to school when about eight
years of age, my mother having taught me previously, and continued in
school until I was sixteen years of age, when I was put into a wholesale
Fish store, where I remained for two years, after which I again went to
school and remained a year and a half, I then came home and commenced
the study of Medicine. While at school the last time I studied Natural
Philosophy, Chemistry, Latin and Music.
I commenced the Study of Medicine at
Camden, N.J., under the preceptorship of Thomas F. Cullen M.D., attended
two courses of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, and am a
graduate of that school.
I have had little or no opportunity
for the study or practice of Pharmacy, and the physical properties of
drugs.
I was in Acting Medical Cadet in the Satterlee U.S.A. General Hospital, from July 1st 1862 to June
16th 1863, and after battle of Gettysburg, Pa. I was sent
there as an Acting Assistant Surgeon U.S.A. where I remained until
August 18th, when I came home sick, I was placed on duty at
the Broad St U.S.A. General Hospital where I remained until October 18th
1863.
Benj F. Hamell
No 835 Arch St. Philad’a.
P.O. adress [sic] Camden, N.J.
Naval Asylum Philad’a.
October 22d 1863.
Questions by the Board:
Questions to be answered in writing
by Dr. Benjin F Hamell.
1. What are the accidents or
injuries which require amputation of thigh?
2. What are the best mode of
controlling the circulation in amputation of thigh?
3. What is flooding, how produced +
how arrested?
4. What is the structure + [unclear]
of bone?
5. Give an account of nux vomica, +
its active principles, then physiological effects, uses etc? [sic]
6. Enumerate the potash salts used
in Medicine, giving their composition in symbols. Give a prescription
without symbols or abbreviation.
7. Enumerate the cranial nerves +
their functions.
8. How was pneumonia diagnosticated
from pleurisy?
9. Give the fetal circulation.
Answers by Hamell:
1. In compound fracture of the thigh
with irreducible protrusion of bone, when the limb is short or torn
nearly or completely off, when the principle [sic, correction marks in
pencil] arterial or nervous trunk is cut or torn nearly or completely
through, in tetanus resulting from a wound of the part, which will not
yield to Medicinal treatment, in Gangrene where the line of demarcation
is formed at or above the knee.
2. The best mode of controlling the
circulation in amputation of the Thigh is by pressure on the Abdominal
Aorta.
3. Flooding is a Haemorrhage from
the internal surface of the Uterus, produced by the placenta becoming
partially detached, and the orifice of the vessels supplying the
placenta remaining patulous, also when the placenta has been removed and
the Uterus does not contract and close the mouths of the vessels. There
are various methods of arresting it, viz: by friction upon the abdomen
over the uterus, cloths sung [sic, correction marks in pencil] out of
ice water applied to the vagina, by the tampon, Ergot given internally,
Ice applied to the bleeding surface, and by friction upon the internal
surface of the uterus with a lemon deprived of its rind.
4. The structure of bone is compact
and spongy, the compact tissue constituting the shaft of the long, and
the external surface of the short bones, and the spongy tissue the
articulating ends of the long and the bodies of the short bones. Bone
is composed of Animal and earthly matter, Gelatin, Phosphate and
Carbonate of Lime, Phosphate of Magnesia and Soda.
5. Nux Vomica is the seed of the
Strychnos Nux Vomica, a plant growing in India, its active principle
[sic, correction marks in pencil] is Strychnia, which is tonic in small
doses, but in overdose produces death by spasm, it is used in paralysis
and incontinence of urine.
6. The salts of Potash are, the
Citrate, Acetate, Tartrate, Sulphate, Carbonate And Bi-Carbonate.
Recipe.
Syrupus; Prunus:
Virginianae: fluidunciae iijss
Vinum: Antimonii:
fluiduncia ss
Extractum: Hyosciani:
granumae XXV
Misturae fiat.
Signa. Cochlear Parvum Ter Die
7. The Optic, supplies the retina,
Olfactory, the nerve of smell, Motor-Oculi and Pathetic, the muscles of
the eye, Facial, to the face, Pneumogastric, to the lungs and stomach,
Pharyngeal, to the tongue, Portia Dura and Portia Mollus, to the ear,
Trifacial, to the face and nose, Hypoglossal, to the tongue, and the
Spinal Accessory to the muscles of the back.
8. In Pneumonia and Plueritis, we
have dullness on percussion. In Plueritis the line of dullness changes
by position, in Pneumonia it is not.
9. The circulation is carried on
between the foetus and mother by means of the Umbilical Vein and two
Umbilical Arteries. The Umbilical vein carries the blood to the right
Auricle, from the right auricle it passes through the foramen ovale into
the left auricle, it is then distributed throughout the system, the
greatest quantity going to the head and little or none to the lungs,
when it is brought back into the right auricle, passes into the right
ventricle, and then is carried by the umbilical arteries back to the
mother.
Benj F. Hamell
Candidate for the position of Acting
Assistant Surgeon U.S. Navy
Naval Asylum Phil’a
October 22nd 1863.
Certificate of Physical Capacity
I declare on honor that, my health at
this time is good and robust; and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I am free from any accidental or constitutional defects, and
without any predisposition to Epilepsy, Phthisis, Gout, Apoplexy, or
Chronic disease of any kind.
I am not at present affected with
Varicocele, disease of the Urinary Organs, Hernia, Hemorrhoids; nor am I
aware that there is any thing hereditary in my constitution, which would
hereafter be likely to incapacitate me for the arduous duties of a
Medical Officer of the Navy.
All my organs of sense are without
imperfection.
Benj. F. Hamell
Candidate for the office of
Acting Assist. Surgeon in the Navy
of the United States.
U.S. Naval Asylum, Philad’a
October 22d
1863.
