Union Army Data - Disease

The Early Indicators project created the following three data sets:

  • Military (Regimental Record, CMR, CMSR, and Pension)
  • Disease (Surgeons' Certificates)
  • Census

The disease data set is collected from the surgeons' certificates found in the veterans' pension (PEN) files. In addition to providing identifying demographic and military service information, each certificate contains:

  • statement of the claimant regarding his health and disability
  • physiological measures such as
    • height
    • weight
    • pulse rate
    • respiration rate
    • blood pressure (beginning around 1930)
  • findings and descriptions of conditions
  • numerical ratings for individual conditions and for disability in general

Examining surgeons were charged with a set of detailed instructions which provided a measure of uniformity to the certificates. Substantial variation in the content of exams exists due to changes in examination procedures over time and idiosyncratic methodologies of examining surgeons. Content of an individual certificate was determined by:

  • the law under which the veteran applied
  • the conditions the veteran is claiming
  • the pertinent instructions to the examining surgeon
  • the health of the veteran being examined

A detailed description of the surgeons' examination is available in the user guide to surgeons' exams.

The Union Army and Early Indicators team has prepared videos to give an overview of the various data collection processes and show examples of source documents. To view these videos, please visit our Youtube channel, or click on individual videos below.

Surgeons' Certificate Collection Part 1
Surgeons' Certificate Collection Part 2

To download datasets from the Union Army project, please visit the list of data samples.

Surgeon's Certificate, 1881

Image of a surgeon's certificate for Charles Quail's 1881 pension application.

Image of a surgeon's certificate for Charles Quail's 1881 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1893

Image of a surgeon's certificate for Charles Quail's 1893 pension application

Image of a surgeon's certificate for Charles Quail's 1893 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1894

Image of a surgeon's certificate for Charles Quail's 1894 pension application

Image of a surgeon's certificate for Charles Quail's 1894 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1898

Image of a surgeon's certificate for Charles Quail's 1898 pension application

Image of a surgeon's certificate for Charles Quail's 1898 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1899

Image of a surgeon's certificate for Charles Quail's 1899 pension application

Image of a surgeon's certificate for Charles Quail's 1899 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1863

Image of a surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1863 pension application

Image of a surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1863 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1875

Image of a surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1875 pension application

Image of a surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1875 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1880

Image of a surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1880 pension application

Image of a surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1875 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1885

Image of a surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1885 pension application

Image of a surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1885 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1893, page 1

Image of the first page of the surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1893 pension application

Image of a surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1893 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1893, page 2

Image of the second page of the surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1893 pension application

Image of the second page of the surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1893 pension application
Surgeon's Certificate, 1905

Image of the surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1905 pension application

Image of the surgeon's certificate for William Martin's 1905 pension application.
Surgeon's Certificate, 1926, page 1

Image of the first page of the surgeon's certificate for Walter's 1926 pension application.

Image of the first page of the surgeon's certificate for Walter's 1926 pension application.
Surgeon's Certificate, 1926, page 2

Image of the second page of the surgeon's certificate for Walter's 1926 pension application.

Image of the second page of the surgeon's certificate for Walter's 1926 pension application.
Cardiovascular Entry Screen

The Union Army Data cardiovascular data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples. 

Image of the Union Army Data cardiovascular data entry screen
Diarrhea Entry Screen

The Union Army Data diarrhea data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data diarrhea data entry screen
Recruit Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data recruit data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army recruit data entry screen
Ear Entry Screen

The Union Army Data ear data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data ear data entry screen
Endocrine Entry Screen

The Union Army Data endocrine data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data endocrine data entry screen
Extra Information Entry Screen

The Union Army Data extra information data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data extra information data entry screen.
Eye Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data eye data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data eye data entry screen.
Gastrointestinal Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data gastrointestinal data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data gastrointestinal data entry screen
General Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data general data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data general data entry screen
Urinary Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data genito-urinary data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data urinary data entry screen
Hernia Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data hernia data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data hernia data entry screen
Infection and Fever Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data infection and fever data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data infection and fever data entry screen
Gunshot Wound Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data gunshot wound data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army gunshot wound data entry screen
Liver Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data liver data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data liver data entry screen
Spleen Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data spleen data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data spleen data entry screen
Gallbladder Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data gallbladder data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data gallbladder data entry screen
Tumor Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data tumor data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data tumor data entry screen
Nervous System Data Entry Screen 1

The first Union Army Data nervous system data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the first Union Army Data nervous system data entry screen
Nervous System Data Entry Screen 2

The second Union Army Data nervous system data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the second Union Army Data nervous system data entry screen
Normal Health Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data normal health data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data normal health data entry screen
Rectal Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data rectal data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data rectal data entry screen
Respiratory System Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data respiratory system data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data respiratory system data entry screen
Rheumatism / Musculo-Skeletal Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data rheumatism / musculo-skeletal data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data rheumatism / musculo-skeletal data entry screen
Varicose Vein Data Entry Screen

The Union Army Data varicose vein data entry screen, used for all recruits in all samples.

Image of the Union Army Data varicose vein data entry screen