2
Class C had a number of "minor subjects" to study, which undoubtedly proved
injurious to their advancement in attaining practical knowledge.
The Board also, at their final meeting, went thoroughly into the cause of
the failures in the senior class and came to the conclusion, which appears to me
to be sound, that the curriculum submitted by the College Managing Committee
and sanctioned by Government in their Resolution, Revenue Department
No. 4177, dated 11th June 1890, was too lengthy and complicated for the students
to grapple with, and for them to attain a sufficient knowledge of each of the nume-
rous subjects, within the two last sessions of their collegiate course. Consequently
the Board unanimously resolved to move Government to reduce the number of
" minor subjects " and to alter the number of marks according to the importance
of each (vide Appendix C). Government approved of the Board's views and
sanctioned the alteration being made in the curriculum in their Resolution,
Educational Department, No. 1487, dated 22nd July 1891.
Constitution of Board of
Examiners.
3. Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining the services of the
Military members of the Board, because their own duties do not always
make it convenient that they
number of days on which the examinations are held. It is hardly to be expect-
ed that these officers will take the same interest in a purely civil institution like
this college, and consequently it would be better, now that it is contemplated to
form a Civil Veterinary Department, to elect the outside examiners from this
source. Another difficulty in connection with the constitution of the Board is,
that the Bombay members receive no remuneration for their services, and, as
they are busy men, they must perform this duty with a certain amount of reluc-
tance. I would, therefore, recommend that they be paid like the other examin-
ers for their work, which is clearly in addition to their own. Separate proposals
on this subject will be submitted in due course.
Number of and changes in
students.
4. On the 1st of April 1891, there were 42 students on the College rolls.
Nine fresh students entered during the year, one of whom had previously
passed the first professional examination and was, therefore, admitted to
Class B. Twelve students left the college, 7 of whom obtained the
diploma of Graduate, 1 proceeded to England to study for the diploma of
the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 2 on account of having failed
to pass, and being in doubt if ever they could do so, and 2 because they
were unable to pay the College fees. At the time there were no free
studentships available to assist the two last named students. Two students
who were plucked at the diploma examination in April 1891, were
excused attendance, and the payment of fees, during the short session
as special cases. Assistant Apothecary Macqueen of His Excellency the Gover-
nor's Establishment and Sub-Conductor Kettle of the Commissariat Department
attended as casual students. The changes in the number of students is shown
in Appendix D.
Paucity of students.
5. There is a slight fall in the number of fresh entries, and also in the total
number of students attending in all three classes in this
year as compared with the previous year. There is no
lack in the number of applications for admission to the College, and many men
even come and study for a short time, but when they learn that their future pro-
spects are so poor from a monetary point of view, and that the professional
examinations are so severe, and that so few men obtain the diploma within the
prescribed time, they naturally leave to embark in some other and more profitable
pursuit. Of Matriculated students very few present themselves for admission,
because they find that with their educational attainments they can, in almost any
other walk in life, obtain remuneration far beyond the price placed upon the
services of a Graduate of the Veterinary College. Then again, after spending
the best three or more years of their life at a considerable cost, they obtain so
few really good and permanent and pensionable posts, that unless men enter the
profession from a pure love of the work, it is only to be expected they will
pause before commencing such a career. As it is palpable, as matters now stand,
that however well a man may understand his work, there is but a precarious
living to face when be launches forth to prosecute his calling. The present
arrangements which exist between Government and local fund boards, seem to