The cover page of Dr. Mudd’s 1856 thesis about dysentery. The original thesis, which allowed him to become a doctor, can be read here:
http://archive.org/stream/univers56bnse#page/n359/mode/2up
A transcript of it (much easier to read, trust me) is provided by Robert Summers’ wonderful Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Research Site here: http://www.samuelmudd.com/351856-graduation-thesis.html