8
17. Of extra collegiate work performed by officers of the College during
the past year:—
The Superintendent has edited the quarterly Journal of Veterinary Science
in India, thus the leading organ of the veterinary profession in India
now emanates from the College ; he has brought out the second edition
of his Diseases of the Ox (Longmans & Co.), and is seeing through the
press a work on Diseases of the Dog (Longmans).
He attended the Chinchli Agricultural Show on behalf of the Kolhápur State
(by permission of Government), and received cordial thanks through
the Political Agent for his services as judge and professional adviser in
the horse classes.
He was reluctantly compelled, by pressure of work,- to decline a most pressing
invitation to the Nadiád Agricultural Exhibition.
Under orders from Government, Mr. D. N. Vakil, who had studied at the Army
Veterinary School, Poona, was deputed for the investigation of an out-
break of rinderpest and other disorders of cattle in North Kánára, and
afterwards in Dhárwár, and performed his duties satisfactorily.
An outbreak of cattle-disease was reported from Thána and the Collector was
advised as to its repression. A slight outbreak of rinderpest among cattle
in Bombay, Government transport bullocks, was also reported on. The
subject of glanders has been dealt with by Government, and the Superin-
tendent has sat as member of a Committee for framing rules under the
Glanders Act for Bombay City. The prevalence of this serious disorder
in Bombay Island has been clearly exemplified in hospital cases brought by
the Police for diagnosis.
The Superintendent has submitted to Government reports on the question
of anthrax vaccination on the Pasteurean system as regards its introduc-
tion into India,
18. In conclusion, I may mention that it has, during the past year, been
found that the Bengal Veterinary College, which was to have been established on
the same lines as our College, had to be postponed sine die on account of expense;
it is, therefore, the more satisfactory that this difficulty has been overcome in
Bombay,—a result which is attributable to recognition by Government of the
urgent necessity for some scientific knowledge of diseases of cattle and horses by
natives of India, to the liberality of Sir Dinshaw Manockjee Petit, and to the ener-
getic pursuit of its objects by the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals. The proposed Calcutta school had been under consideration some
time before that of Bombay was actually dealt with. In the Empire of India there
are only three other veterinary teaching institutions: one at Lahore, essentially
for education of veterinary assistants in the vernacular; another at Rangoon for
education of Burman boys in diseases of cattle (only organized temporarily); and
a third at Poona, on a limited scale, for army purposes. Thus the Bombay
Veterinary College is the only institution of its kind in India, i. e., for education
of natives as veterinary practitioners for independent charge and in the English
language by entirely European methods. Accordingly, it will probably be ex-
pected, in the immediate future, to supply fully educated veterinary practitioners
for all parts of India to fill the gap now existing between the few European
graduates posted to civil duties and the numerous but imperfectly educated salutris,
thus occupying a position in the veterinary profession similar to that of assistant
surgeons in the medical organization of this Presidency. It must be remembered
that, in the future, Lahore may commence to give higher veterinary education,
and, colleges may be opened in Madras and Calcutta; but to Bombay belongs the
credit of taking the initiative in this movement.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
JOHN HENRY STEEL, V.S.,
Superintendent, Bombay Veterinary College and Hospital.