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(c) Deputation of a graduate to investigate and check the spread of cattle
disease (rinderpest) in the Thana district.
(d) Instructions as to the nature and prevention of cattle-disease (foot and
mouth disease) sent to the Collector of Kolába.
(e) Advice as to treatment and management of the animals in the Victoria
Gardens.
The College officers also performed the following extra collegiate work :—
The late Principal Steel prepared a work on Surra, which it is hoped will
soon be published, and gave a lecture in connection with the Bombay
Natural History Society on mules.
Dr. Nariman read a paper on the ill effects of over-crowding in cattle in
Bombay before the Bombay Veterinary Association.
Assistant Veterinary Officer Mr. J. D. Parakh efficiently performed the
duties of the Secretary to the Bombay Veterinary Association during
the absence of Dr. Nariman. The Bombay Veterinary Association has
been doing substantial work and is of great help to the College students.
In view of the great benefits conferred on the College, a room has
been allowed for the use of the Association by the Principal. The
College is indebted to the Association for some valuable specimens
which have been presented to the Museum.
11. The revised course of instruction, proposed by the late Mr. Steel and
approved by Government, was followed in its entirety. The experience of the
teachers in regard to the new course is that it throws unnecessary burden both
on teachers and students. Many subjects, which can with advantage be taught
in the general lectures on Medicine and Surgery and which can be grouped with
other allied subjects, are put down as separate subjects. Again, some of the
subjects are totally practical and so can never be efficiently taught in the
lecture-room. It would be a great advantage to the students if more of their
time is devoted to practical work than to theoretical studies. Under the present
arrangement, the C. Class students have hardly sufficient time to attend to the
practical work as they have to learn a large number of minor subjects from
books or lectures. It is at the same time gratifying to note that the students
in general are taking considerable interest in practical work and they have done
well also in the practical portion of the last professional examination. The
system of weekly examinations was continued last year with great advantage,
as it puts the students in the way of answering questions. The views often
expressed by the examiners that students pay more attention to book work than
to practical work and often cram their minds without understanding what they
read are correct in some cases, as some of the students are incapable, through
deficient knowledge of English, of understanding the lectures or the text books.
Often in the examination such students are unable to answer a question, if the
form, in which it is generally put, is slightly altered.
12. A syllabus of the College course of instruction prepared by the late
Principal Steel showing in detail the manner in which each lecture should be
given was brought into force for the first time. It has been found, however, that
the syllabus is much more minute and extensive than is necessary, as it embraces
more subjects than are even required for the diploma of Fellowship of the Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons. Its adoption also throws a considerable amount
of additional work of a theoretical nature on the students, thus drawing away
their attention from practical work which is much more important.
I consider this a suitable opportunity to allude to the proposal as to granting
of a higher diploma in Veterinary Science to graduates and licentiates on passing
a higher examination after a certain number of years' practice, which was sug-
gested by the late Professor Steel in his letters to Government, Nos. 631 and
879, dated 29th September and 20th October 1890 respectively. Any higher
diploma is unsuited to the present condition of the College and the graduates.
The change in the present system which is urgently demanded is described
in paragraph 5 above.
Appendix H shows the number of lectures in the class-room and the wards
given during the year. It will be seen that some of the subjects pertaining to
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