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: Robert Willard, M.D.
Preliminary Letter
I was born in Boston Mass. on the
eighth of Dec 1838.
Began to attend school at the age of
five; about 12 years old entered the Boston Latin School, and after
finishing the regular course there (5 yrs), was admitted to Harvard
College; graduated in July 1860. While in the Latin School the studies
were history, arithmetic, geography, algebra, french, latin and greek
[sic], particular attention being paid to the two last – In college the
classes were still farther pursued, and at times, botany and chemistry,
with natural sciences. I have at different periods during my college
course studied Spanish and Italian, but for the past few years have paid
no attention to the modern languages or botany.
Immediately on graduating, I entered
the Harvard Medical School, and there remained until April 1862,
when I was appointed to the Mass. Gen Hospital as House Physician, where
I have been up to the present time. Prior to entering the Hospital
regularly, I had occasionally filled the post of House Surgeon. I have
been in the habit of practicing pharmacy to some extent in the Hosp.
above referred to, having filled the place of apothecary frequently for
short periods. Have also made autopsies under the superintendence of
the Asst. Prof. of Morbid Anatomy, and had repeated and frequent
opportunities of witnessing and assisting at surgical operations. Shall
be ready to graduate in July 1863.
Robert Willard
Address in Philadelphia
Mrs. Hemsley’s S.W. Corner
of Walnut and Twelfth Sts.
Address in Boston to the care of
Joseph Willard
Boston, Mass.
April 17th
1863.
Robert Willard
Candidate for the post of
Asst. Surgeon in the U.S. Navy
Questions by the Board:
Questions to be answered in writing,
by, Mr. Robt Willard
1. What is hydrocele, and what is
the diagnosis?
2. What are the stages of labour?
3. In fracture the long bones, what
is the rationale of union?
4. Describe Dewy’s Safety lamp, its
use and the principle on which its action depends?
5. What is capillary attraction?
6. Describe the capillary
circulation.
7. What is the diagnoses in
pneumonia, bronchitis + pleurisy, respectively – [sic]
8. Write a prescription for a pill
containing an astringent and a narcotic – without symbols or
abbreviations –
9. What is the pathology of
diphtheria, how would you treat it? –
Answers by Willard:
1. It is a tumor of the scrotum
consisting of water or more properly serum, contained in the tumor
vaginalis. It is soft and yielding to the touch and is distinguished
from hernia by its capability of transmitting light, from varicocele by
the feeling, the latter being knotted.
2. There are three stages of labor –
The first is the dilatation of the os uteri – The second is the delivery
of the child – The third the expulsion of the placenta and membranes.
3. There is a certain amount of
inflammation and the ends of the ruptured periosteal membrane throw out
a soft cartilaginous matter which covers the seat of fracture. This
occurs in the course of a week and after that time the new substance, if
circumstances are favorable, hardens, becoming the callus.
4. The lamp resembles any ordinary
lamp only being surrounded at a short distance from the wick
flame by a wire network. This prevents any of the flame from passing
directly to the air which may be in the neighborhood of the lamp. If
the air be is a combustible gas it is consumed on the wire by
slow combustion, if it is a poisonous gas the flame is reduced but does
not expire, thus giving time for the person exposed to escape.
5. Is that property which some
bodies have of remaining in contact with each other when under the usual
conditions, they would fall apart.
6. The arteries divided into very
minute vessels and through their walls the nutrient properties of the
blood exuded and the waste is taken up by the small vessels of the veins
which communicate with the arterial capillaries and the blood is
returned to be purified.
7. In pneumonia we find fever, cgh
[sic] and local pain in the chest. Expecn Sputa is at first
white but soon becomes viscid bloody and rusty, the blood being
thoroughly mixed with the mucus. There is dullness on percussion of the
affected part and also crepitation and diminish respiration there.
Patient is unable to be on affected side. If the disease progresses all
respiration ceases in the seat of the disease which is almost always in
the lower lobe of the lung, and generally on the right side Change of
position does not usually affects the resonance on percussion. If but
one lung is affected in the healthy side we find the respiration
increased.
In bronchitis there is rather
increased resonance on percussion. The rȃles are loud, mucous and
frequently rattling heard over the course of the bronchi. The thoracic
pain is across the middle of the front chest, the dyspnea well marked
and the sputa whitish yellowish or greenish, apt to be frothy and at
times mixed with fresh blood but not so intimately as in pneumonia. The
respiration is quick and may be tubular over the bronchi, where
broncophony is sometimes heard. Cgh [sic] and fever.
In pleurisy there is sharp pn. cgh
[sic] with generally whitish, yellowish or greenish sputa. At first but
little diminution of the resonance and at that time the bruit de cuir
neuf may be heard from the movement of the inflamed pleural surfaces
over each other. After exudation takes places there is intense dullness
on percussion absence of respiration and by change of position some
change in the resonance may be observed in the affected side. Aegophony
may be heard when there is a thin layer of fluid between the lung and
the walls of the chest. In the healthy side the respiration is
puerile. The decubitus after exudation has taken place is usually on
the affected side. In the apex of the diseased lung rales of crackling
kind maybe sometimes heard if the effusion is not very extensive.
Pneumonia and pleurisy are said by some writers to occur together
always.
8 . Recipe
Plumbi Acetatis granum semis unum
Opii Pulverizati granum unum
Misce et fiat pilulam unam.
Signa – Capiat ad noctum.
9 Diphtheria is an exudation of
whitish matter on the mucous membrane of the mouth palate and or
fauces and is said to be of a fungus or vegetable growth.
Treatment – Tonics and astringents the latter especially to a surface
denuded of the exudation. Potassae Chloratis gr x - xx to the ounce of
cold water. Tr Mur Ferri gtt v - x 3 or 4 times daily. Nourishing
diet, but not a very stimulating one unless the disease be marked with
severe constitutional symptoms; rest, freedom from exposure to cold or
wet.
Robert Willard
Saturday April 18th 1863
Certificate of Physical Capacity
I declare on honor that my health is
at this time 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 or hemorrhoids; nor am
I aware that there is anything 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.
Robert Willard
Candidate for the office of Ass’t
Surgeon in the Navy of the United States.
U.S. Naval Hospital Asylum
Philad’a
April 17th 1863.
