2
(a).—A re-action after the first enthusiasm when the College was opened.
(b).—A desire among possible candidates to observe what openings there
are for our graduates before committing themselves to a course of
study by entry and payment of fees.
(c).—Opening of the Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute.
(d).—The decision of the College Committee (confirmed in Government
Resolution No. 5788, Revenue Department, dated 28th August .1888)
to admit only matriculates.
(e).—Possibly also the absence of the Principal on sick leave.
Of these causes (a) was to have been anticipated ; (b) requires to be noticed
specially ; (c) and (e) were in this relation unfortunate circumstances, but unavoid-
able ; and (d) seems to have originated in a misunderstanding, but I fear by com-
bining with the other influences it may have a serious effect on the future of the
College. The arguments for and against enforcement of the Matriculation as the
entrance test will shortly be placed before Government; they have been elicited
with care from the members of the College Committee, and the decision of Govern-
ment on this matter involves a declaration of policy as to the immediate future
action of the College. Either it will continue to admit non-matriculates and trust
to the great need for educated veterinarians in India to create such a demand
for the services of graduates as will in the future determine a supply of
students, or else, there being now 75 students in the College, its door of
entry will for a time be practically closed by demand of a Matriculation certifi-
cate from applicants until the country shows that in its need for veterinary
practitioners it will remunerate them sufficiently to induce matriculates to enter
the College and until the College shows it can turn out high class graduates
such as the country requires and Government demands.
4. This entrance test question hinges to an extent on that of employment
for graduates. If Government must employ all graduates to prevent their
lapsing into the already over-large class of the educated unemployed, it will be
wise not to develope a native veterinary professional body so rapidly as the
College is capable of doing. On the other hand if, as is contended, the country
is prepared to employ native veterinarians and to adequately pay them, the
College should, I submit, continue to work on the lines originally laid down ,
but we must not be surprised if young men prudently wait to find out the true
prospects before they join the College. Personally I am in favour of adhering
to the original policy, (which I think has not had yet full trial), of admitting non-
matriculates after a suitable test in general education. I have elsewhere fully
stated my views, but may here express my opinion that the lines on which the
College was originally started are sound, and that any present change of them
is to be deprecated. I consider our graduates will, as a class, be the best vete-
rinarians ever turned out in India and most suited to the requirements of the
country, and I certainly think it premature to take a despairing view as to their
future before they have even graduated ! I could without hesitation report a
hundred posts under the Supreme and Local Governments of India which might
be held by such men as graduates of the Bombay Veterinary College will be with
benefit and even economy to the country, they being given suitable salaries.
Not only is this the case, but also I feel assured that when our pioneers have
fought the uphill work of a new profession in the leading towns of India
the public will support a large number of non-official veterinarians in a respect¬
able position. The number of lame horses and bullocks in Bombay, the preva-
lence of diseases of various kinds among the larger domestic animals of the-
Presidency towns and the mofussil, and the success of a number of empirical
cattle and horse doctors in spite of their utter ignorance and absolute harmfulness
to their patients are evidences of "room" for the profession. It is for Gov-
ernment to decide whether it will lend aid to the incipient profession in this
Presidency, as has been done in most Continental countries, or whether it will leave
the profession to fight its own battle, as has been done successfully in Great
Britain ? However, this must be remembered, each graduate costs Government
money and is capable of returning it by his services; therefore we must consider