MEMORANDUM 
For the information of persons desirous of entering the Medical Corps 
of the U. S, Army. 
EXTRACTS FROM LAWS OF TILE UNITED STATES. 
Act of Congress, Approved June, 30, 1834. 
"Sec. 1. Be it enacted Ac , That from and after the passing of this Act, 
no person shall receive the appointment of Assistant Surgeon in the Army 
of the United States, unless he shall have been examined and approved by 
an Army Medical Board, to consjst of not less than three Surgeons or 
Assistant Surgeons, who shall be designated for that purpose by the Sec- 
retary of War; and no person shall receive the appointment of Surgeon 
in the Army of the United States, unless he shall have served at least five 
years as an Assistant Surgeon, and unless, also, he shall have been 
examined by an Army Medical Board constituted as aforesaid." 
Act . f Congress, approved July 28, 1866. 
"Sec. 17. And be it further enacted, That the Medical Department of 
the Army shall hereafter consist of one Surgeon General * * * * 
One Assistant Surgeon General ***** (jne C]lief Medical 
Purveyor and four Assistant Medical Purveyors * * * * Sixty 
Surgeons, with the rank, pay and emoluments of Majors of Cavalry. 
One hundred and fifty Assistant Surgeons, with the rank, pay and emolu- 
ments of First Lieutenants of Cavalry, for the first three years service, 
and with the rank, pay and emoluments of Captains of Cavalry after 
three years service. * * * * " 
All candidates for appointment in the Medical Corps, must apply to the 
Surgeon General, U. S. Army, for an invitation to appear before the 
Medical Examining Board. The application must be in the hand writing 
of the candidate, stating age and birthplace, and be accompanied by 
testimonials from Professors of the College in which he graduated, or from 
other physicians of good repute. If the candidate has been in the Medical 
service of the Army during the war, the fact should be stated, together 
with his former rank, and time and place of service, and Testimonials as 
to qualifications and character from Officers with whom he has served 
should also be forwarded. 
Candidates must be graduates of some regular Medical College, proof 
of which must be submitted to the Board before examination. The morals, habits, and physical and mental qualifications of each can- 
didate will be subjects for careful examination by the Board, and a favor- 
able report will not be made in any case in which there is a reasonable 
doubt. 
The following will be the general plan of examination: 
1. A short essay, either autobiographical or upon some professional 
subject-to be indicated by the Board. 
2. Physical examination. This will be rigid, and each candidate will 
be required to certify "that he labors under no mental or physical infirmity, 
nr.r disability of any kind, which can in any way interfere with the most efficient 
discharge of his duties in any climate." 
3. Examination as to general aptitude and education. 
4. Written examination on anatomy, physiology, hygiene, surgery and 
practice of medicine. 
6. Oral examination on each of the above mentioned subjects, and also 
on obstetrics, general pathology, chemistry, toxicology, medical jurispru- 
dence and materia medica. 
6. Clinical examination, medical and surgical, at a hospital. 
7. Performance of surgical operations on the cadaver. 
The Board will deviate from this general plan whenever necessary, in 
such manner as they deem best to secure the interests of the service. 
The Board will report the merits of the candidates in the several 
branches of the examination, and their relative merit in the whole, accord- 
ing to which, if vacancies exist within two years thereafter, the approved 
candidates will receive appointments and take rank in the Medical Corps, 
An applicant failing at one examination, may be allowed a second after 
one year, but not a third. 
No allowance will be macle for the expenses of persons undergoing 
examination, as this is an indispensible prerequisite to appointment, but 
those who are approved and receive appointments, will be entitled to 
transportation on their obeying their first order. If the result of the examination of a candidate be satisfactory he will 
be offered a contract for duty as Acting Assistant Surgeon until such time 
as he can be appointed or commissioned as Assistant Surgeon. 
The pay and emoluments of Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons are 
shown by the following table. 
Surgeon, over ten years' 
service, ----- 
Surgeon, under ten years' 
service, ----- 
Assistant Surgeon, over 
ten years' service, - 
Assistant Surgeon, over 
three years' service, 
Assistant Surgeon, under 
three years' service, 
80.00 
80.00 
70.00 
70.00 
S' 
Pay per month. 
QO 
4- 
00 
4- 
*• 
No. of rations pe 
r day. 
t2 
C3 
© 
to 
8 
5 
Amount of rations per 
month. 
to 
to 
*-* 
- 
No. for which pay 
is allowed. 
co 
to 
co 
to 
s 
© 
t 
Am't allowed for 
pay per month. 
■■ 
ft 
13.00 
13.00 
6.50 
© 
O' 
© 
O' 
O 
Am't allowed for 
clothing per m'tli. 
■ 
M 
W 
00 
00 
co 
co 
V 
Am't allowed for 
rations per m'th. 
63.00 
63.00 
31.50 
CO 
cn 
© 
b' 
© 
Total amount al- 
lowed per month. 
215.00 
179.00 
9 
© 
137.50 
$120.83 
Aggregate amount receiv- 
able. 
*> 
co 
co 
to 
In time of war. 
c 
FORAGE 
NISHE 
HORSES 
to 
to 
to 
to 
to 
In time of peace. 
* 
F 
T 
° 
s 3 c 
S M ? 
In addition to the above, Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons are allowed 
an additional ration per day, after the termination of every five years' 
service. 
Quarters and fuel, or commutation therefor, are also furnished to 
Medical Officers. 
The number of vacancies now existing in the Medical Corps of the 
Army is 
JOS. K. BARNES, 
Surgeon General, U, S. Army 
war department, 
Surgeon General's Office, 
January 1, 1868.