No. 522 OF 1890.
From
JOHN HENRY STEEL, F.R.C.V.S.,
Principal, Bombay Veterinary College ;
To
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
Revenue Department.
Bombay Veterinary College,
Parel, dated 25th of May 1890.
SIR,
I have the honour to present this the fourth Annual Report of the
Bombay Veterinary College. In accordance with the precedent of last year I
have given a summary of the Annual Report of the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw
Manokji Petit Hospital for Animals in one of the paragraphs under the heading
"Clinical Teaching of Students. "The hospital not being under Government
requires notice here only in this manner, although I furnish every year to the
Committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals a report in
the hope of keeping their hospital as systematic in its working as is compatible
with its constitution.
* Absolute not relative :
Entries of men who remained at
College.
First year 69.
Second year 19.
Third year 6.
Fourth year 11.
2. In 1888-89 there were, on 1st April, 75 students on the College rolls ;
11 fresh men entered and 37 retired or left the College for various reasons
(including Mr. C. King, a senior student of much promise, who died in Septem-
ber 1889). The strength in students was especially reduced by the results of the
Professional Examinations in May when 25 candidates obtained the diploma of
" Graduate, Bombay Veterinary College, " and one member of the College staff,
Assistant Surgeon Sukhia, L.M. & S., became a " Licentiate in Veterinary
Science." The results of the examinations are shown in Appendix A and the
changes in number of students in Appendix B. It will be observed that there
was a fall in the number of students to 49. This is
due to paucity of entries,* number of Graduates,
and retirements of men who thought either the
tests too severe or the prospects of Graduates not
tempting enough. Through the prompt action
of Government in deciding not to strictly adhere to the Matriculation of the
University as essential for admission (see Government Resolution, Revenue
Department, No. 3854, dated 27th May 1889), we were enabled to admit some
good men who would otherwise have been excluded ; but it is to be regretted
that some applicants for admission had been diverted to other lines of work
before the requisite action could be taken. The falling off in number of students
is not to be considered altogether a disadvantage ; indeed in some respects it is
for the better, as all who graduate at the College must find employment and
the position they have to attain is something altogether novel, so that (as will be
shown hereafter) the market must not be glutted with Graduates if this can
possibly be avoided. However, it is to be hoped that a fair number of entries
in the coming year will compensate for the departures which we anticipate.
The examinations were conducted by the Government Board of Veterinary
Examiners in accordance with the regulations of the College. At the meeting
of the Board held on 7th May 1889, some suggestions were drawn up as to system
of marking, sub-division of subjects, &c., and subsequently these were approved
by Government (see Government Resolution, Revenue Department, No. 944,
dated 4th February 1890). The appointment of a permanent Board of Examiners
again answered well.
3. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, at a meeting of its Council
held recently, decided not to recognize as "Colonial" or "Foreign" schools
B
387—1