186
Class B consisted of 11 students who having passed the first examination
in April 1895 returned to study for the second or final test.
597. The examinations were conducted by:—
Veterinary-Captain H.T. Pease, Assistant to the Inspector-General, Civil Veteri-
nary Department.
Veterinary-Lieutenant J. Loughlin, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
North-Western Provinces and Oudh.
These officers conducted the examination in 1894-95. For the examination
of the junior class, 18 students entered, of whom three failed. For the
examination of the senior class, 11 students entered, of whom 2 failed, the
remaining 9 were declared by the Examiners to be qualified as veterinary
assistants.
The percentage of passes was most satisfactory, but in addition to this, it is
most gratifying to find that the actual number of marks obtained by those
students who passed was above the average.
The examinations for the senior class embraced the subjects of equine and
bovine medicine and surgery, the examination of horses as to soundness, detec-
tion of disease and lameness.
598. The number of patients treated during the year was 357 against 117
last year, proving that the institution is yearly becoming more popular. The fol-
lowing will show the classes of animals treated:—
Equine
Bovine
Canine ...
Miscellaneous
...
...
...
...
In-door patients.
140
29
27
7
203
Out-door patients.
107
14
32
1
154
Total.
247
43
59
8
357
On this point the Principal states:—
"From the lists it will be seen that the equine practice was sufficient, both in quantity and variety to supply
object lessons for clinical instruction. The cattle practice, although small, has increased. But with regard to this
class of practice, I would point out that the diseases and accidents, other than contagious maladies, with which
cattle are liable to become affected, are simple and unimportant when compared with the many severe diseases
and accidents from which horses suffer. In my opinion the most important, subject in connection with
cattle practice and the one in which veterinary assistants are most likely to be called upon to exercise their skill
is contagious diseases, as cattle plague, anthrax, foot and mouth disease. These diseases are seldom met with
except in an epizootic form, and therefore cannot be studied clinically at a veterinary hospital, nevertheless,
every pupil who passed out of the School in 1896, possessed a theoretical knowledge, not only of the causes,
nature, symptoms and treatment of these diseases, but also of the manner in which they spread and of the
precautionary measures best calculated to suppress them."
1 agree with the Principal in thinking that the equine practice is sufficient,
but with reference to the cattle practice of this institution, I greatly regret to
find that it so very below the mark. Only 43 head of cattle, including
both in-door and out-door patients, have been treated during the year,
and this is not sufficient to give the students the slightest idea of their
work. I cannot agree with the Principal in thinking that the diseases,
other than contagious maladies, from which cattle suffer, are unimportant. In
large villages we constantly meet with a number of bullocks suffering from
abdominal, and in the winter especially, from pulmonary complaints, and it is
these that the veterinary assistants should be able to treat; nothing adds to
the popularity of these men more than being able to save a zemindar's bullock
when he is known to be really ill. With reference to his remarks on contagious
diseases, I fear he will find that the ordinary veterinary assistant will utterly
fail to put into practice that which he has learned theoretically, and therefore
I would advise that in future, when any outbreaks are known to exist, the
senior students should be taken out and shown the form of disease which may
be prevalent, and should also be shown the sanitary and precautionary measures
which should be adopted; without such practical training 1 feel confident that
the students will be found lamentably wanting when called to the seat of an
outbreak.