7
Government having decided not to employ a joint Librarian and Curator
of Museum, the work in connection with these portions of the institution has
fallen to the various members of the College staff, but can hardly be considered
in this way to be so thoroughly performed as it might be by means of an officer
told off to the special charge of the Museum, specimens, books, diagrams, sur-
gical instruments, and other such valuable Government property now deposited
in the College.
17. The Public Works Department, in addition to building the Practical
Examination Shed and commencing the Chemical Laboratory and porch with
museum, has considerably improved the ground round the Dissecting Room and
made a road leading to it, with a view to increasing its accessibility during the
rains. Further, designs and estimates have been drawn out for quarters for six
resident students, which designs have been submitted to Government.
18. One of the most important matters which has had to be considered
during the past year is the measures best calculated to secure employment of
Veterinary Graduates as soon as we have any, which will probably be in April 1889.
There can be no doubt that in Bombay and in larger towns of the Presidency a
fair number of graduates will be able to earn a living as private practitioners;
the public will be willing enough to pay fees for the treatment of the horses, but
fees which can be derived from treatment of cattle will doubtless be few. From
this we infer that in the natural course of things veterinary practitioners in
private practice will be found only in Bombay, Ahmedabad, Karáchi and other
such places, but not without Government aid be able to obtain a living in the
smaller towns and throughout the districts. I have submitted to Government
suggestions as to the gradual development of a Subordinate Veterinary Service
for repression of cattle disease and allied duties throughout the Presidency.
I consider that the small number of graduates proposed to be annually employed
by Government will suffice to absorb available men, because in addition to
private practice the wants of various States and Governments, other than those
of Bombay, have to be met. In these several ways the 14 or 15 men who pro-
bably will pass every year will almost certainly all find employment. Bombay yet
remains the only College of its kind in India. During the past year Madras has
introduced a scheme for Veterinary Diplomas in its Science and Arts Depart-
ment as a development of technical education, but the length of time required,
the severity of the curriculum, and the absence of schools for instruction in
veterinary subjects will, I have no doubt, prevent the Madras Diploma in any
way competing with ours, if it ever obtains any status even in its own Presidency.
I hope that the Municipalities, especially that of Bombay, will utilize their
nominees to free-studentship, when the latter become graduates, for the charge
of Municipal cattle, the inspection of slaughter-houses and of markets for live
cattle. I have drawn attention to the fact that a graduate when available might
benefitingly be attached to the staff of the Health Officer of the Port.
19. The duties of cattle-disease repression have, as last year, been
carried on from the College. The health of cattle has recently been good, but in
the commencement of the year the Superintendent proceeded to Ratnágiri, the
Assistant Superintendent to Bijápur, and Mr. D. N. Vakil to Broach, Ahmed-
abad and Panch Maháls for repression of outbreaks. Recently the experiment
of deputing veterinary students to deal with cattle-disease in the Sholápur
District has been tried with satisfactory results.
The Superintendent has drawn out and published under sanction of Gov-
ernment " Instructions on Cattle Diseases" for the use of local officers, also
the Kolhápur Primer on Cattle Disease, which has been favourably mentioned
by Government recently. Arrangements have been made for the annual pro-
duction of a primer of this kind on some veterinary subject.
20. I have the pleasure to report that the Honourable Mr. Justice Bayley
has promised a sum of Rs. 50 annually to the College Prize Fund.
Sir Dinshaw Mánokji Petit has invested a sum of Rs. 500, the interest of
which is to be devoted to award of prizes for the students.
The prizes which were announced for competition for the last year have
been repeated for the present year.