Essays from the Board of Naval Surgeons of the United States Navy Bureau and Medicine Department
Collection
Identifier: MSS 1/001-02
Scope and Contents
The collection contains a series of 74 brief essays on an array
of subjects, 1841-1848, with a few related letters and testimonials,
from physicians applying to the Board of Naval Surgeons, for
entrance into or promotion in the U.S. Navy. The Board appears
to have been convened at the U.S. Naval Asylum in Philadelphia
and Surgeon John A. Kearney was its president. Many of the
applicants were graduates of the Medical Department of the University
of Pennsylvania. The collection conveys the nature of the essay
phase of the naval examination process and identifies many 19th
century physicians who entered the U.S. Navy.
Dates
- 1841 - 1848
Creator
- United States. Navy Department. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (Board of Naval Surgeons) (Organization)
Biographical / Historical
During the 19th century, applicants seeking admission into the
Medical Corps of the United States Navy or Assistant Surgeons
desiring promotion were required to submit themselves to examination
by a Board of Naval Surgeons appointed by the Secretary of the
Navy. By the 1860s, the board was convened on an annual basis
at the close of each academic year.
After a physical examination and submission of a statement attesting to age, birthplace, and education, each applicant was assigned an essay topic to be considered in a set amount of time. On the basis of the essay's merits, the board determined whether or not to proceed with the examination process. Subsequent steps of the examination process included a series of written answers to questions, an oral examination consisting of identification of chemical and therapeutic substances, patient diagnosis, and cadaver dissection. An Assistant Surgeon seeking promotion presented testimonials from the surgeons with whom he had been associated as well as his case book. The Board of Naval Surgeons then made its report on each applicant to the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
After a physical examination and submission of a statement attesting to age, birthplace, and education, each applicant was assigned an essay topic to be considered in a set amount of time. On the basis of the essay's merits, the board determined whether or not to proceed with the examination process. Subsequent steps of the examination process included a series of written answers to questions, an oral examination consisting of identification of chemical and therapeutic substances, patient diagnosis, and cadaver dissection. An Assistant Surgeon seeking promotion presented testimonials from the surgeons with whom he had been associated as well as his case book. The Board of Naval Surgeons then made its report on each applicant to the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Extent
2 boxes (77 items)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The essays addressed to the Board of Naval Surgeons were purchased
by the Historical Collections of the College of Physicians of
Philadelphia from the Manuscript Company of Springfield in 1991.
The essays appear to have once been bound together in a single
volume but were subsequently disbound.
The collection was processed and catalogued in 1991.
The collection was processed and catalogued in 1991.
Creator
- Title
- Essays from the Board of Naval Surgeons of the United States Navy Bureau and Medicine Department
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
Contact:
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
