8
The year under report is the first one during which the experiment of
entrusting the duties of Instructors to Veterinary graduates sanctioned by
Government in Resolution, Revenue Department, No. 9422, dated 14th December
1889, has been carried out. The two Instructors, Messrs. V. E. Vakharia and
N. D. Dhakmarvala, who replaced the Assistant Surgeons Engineer and Sukhia
on 1st April 1890, although without any previous experience in the teaching
line, worked hard throughout the year and they give fair hopes of turning out
good teachers in a short time. They show great zeal and interest in their work
and are assisting the Principal in his multifarious duties both at the College and
hospital. Mr. Dhakmarvala has put up a skeleton, while Mr. Vakharia has made
some substantial changes in the chemical laboratory. It is certainly a great
advantage to the College in having these full-time workers instead of the Assist-
ant Surgeons who simply lectured to the classes and did not do any work in the
hospital. The Instructors were of great help in the hospital work during the
vacations. As this was their first year and they had consequently considerable
difficulty in getting up lectures, &c., it was thought advisable not to give them
hospital duties during the sessions, but from the ensuing year it is intended to
give them their full share of hospital work so that their practical knowledge may
not get rusty and either of them may become competent enough to take up the
post of Assistant Professor and Resident Veterinary Officer whenever it is vacant.
They have also been advised to attempt to get matriculated at the University so
that they may have some time a chance of being recognized as Colonial Veterniary
Surgeons under the British Act, and thus obtain the diploma of M.R.C.V.S.
after a short stay in Great Britain. It is hoped that at no distant date all the
members of the teaching staff will also be members of the Royal College of
Veterinary Surgeons.
The post of instructor in Practical Shoeing has not yet been permanently
filled up. During the first few months of the year, Rs. 40 a month were paid to a
native farrier who did the practical shoeing work, while from September last one
of the graduates has also been temporarily appointed to be instructor in shoeing
on Rs. 40 a month. Arrangements are being made to get a graduate specially
trained for Farriery, as there is no chance of attracting any more men from the
Army for the post. As soon as a graduate is ready for the post, proposals will
be submitted as to the way in which his services should be utilized. Mr. H. S.
Batlivala, G.B.V.C., the temporary instructor in shoeing, and the native
farrier, have worked satisfactorily.
The two Assistant Veterinary officers sanctioned by Government have
proved of great help in the hospital work, and also did good service in conducting
classes during the casual absence of the teachers. Further they cheerfully per-
formed the extra duties of Resident Veterinary officer when Dr. Nariman was
Principal to his entire satisfaction. These post-graduate appointments, though
the remuneration attached to each is only Rs. 300 a year, are already becoming
attractive among the graduates as they afford them considerable facilities to
extend their practical knowledge and thus make them better veterinarians.
The Superintendent of Bacteriological Laboratory, Mr. G. P. Nariman,
G.B.V.C., was entertained from 15th December 1890. He assisted the Prin-
cipal in preparing indents and in supervising the making of furniture for the new
laboratory and in conducting the practical microscopical classes which were for
the first time introduced during the year. He has been of help also in the
investigation of specific diseases in the hospital.
The College Clerk, Mr. V. B. Phatak, performed his duties satisfactorily and
was of special service in the year under report to the Acting Principal.
The re-organization of the teaching staff on the plan recommended by the
College Committee and approved by Government that teachers in a Veterinary
College should all be veterinary graduates and full time workers has thus worked
very satisfactorily. Under this system the interests of the teachers and of the
College are bound together, and being themselves alumni of the same institution,
the Graduate Instructors feel a natural desire to do all in their power to promote
its welfare. They are also quite in touch with the wants of the students on whom
they can impress what is most important and useful in their respective branches
of instruction.