5
13. The subject of the staff allowance of the Assistant Surgeons appointed
to the College as Lecturers has been brought before the College Committee, which
has expressed its opinion that the amount of staff allowance should increase in
certain specified proportion with length of service until a maximum is attained.
So long as the present system is retained this is probably the best method which
could be adopted, the increase in staff allowance being dependent on these officers
being favourably reported on. But I would suggest that the whole system be
altered: at present the Assistant Surgeons depend for promotion on medical
qualifications and status, in no way on efficient performance of their duties as
Lecturers. This is unsatisfactory in the extreme as it prevents their interests
being bound up with those of the College; they do their lecturing efficiently but
not the supplemental duties depending thereon except when they tend to bringing
personal kudos. Thus practically no specimens illustrating the work of their
department have been presented to the Museum by the Lecturers on chemistry
and anatomy. This is not to their credit, considering they have been two years
at the College. Again there is a lack of zeal in organizing their respective
branches of the College work and a tendency to minimise the amount of duty
done, and this throws much work on the Superintendent which does not legiti-
mately belong to him. Mr. Sukhia deserves credit for a compilation on anatomy
brought out by him for the use of students. I would suggest that the present
Lecturers be given every facility for veterinary graduation, but if they do not
avail themselves of this within a reasonable time (say three years), they revert to
their medical duties and be replaced by veterinary graduates. If they do be-
come veterinary graduates I would suggest that they be seconded from the
Assistant Surgeons' list and placed entirely at disposal of Veterinary Department.
By securing veterinary graduates, and by this means only, it seems to me we can
ensure the efficiency and the necessary zeal in the Lecturers' Department.
14. Assistant Superintendent Nariman officiated for me in clinical charge
of the Hospital during one month last autumn. He efficiently investigated an
outbreak of communicable disease in cattle in Bijápur District in May and
June. He has added to his medical qualifications that of Doctor of Medicine
(Bombay) and has proved himself zealous in performing his College and Hos-
pital duties and of the greatest assistance to me. His veterinary knowledge has
increased considerably, and in accordance with the decision of Government it
has been arranged that he shall appear for Special Licensing Examination before
the Board of Examiners in April 1888. The subjects and nature of examina-
tion have been fixed at rather a higher standard than that of the ordinary
graduate examinations in order that no question may arise hereafter as to the
stringency of the test, on passing which Dr. Nariman will become a legally
qualified veterinary practitioner.
15. The College Committee has met twice during the past year, the
principal subjects dealt with at the meetings being the election of free students,
remuneration of lecturers, Dr. Nariman's special examination, and routine
administrative work. I regret to state that latterly considerable difficulty has
been experienced in obtaining a quorum of members of the Committee, which
accounts for the number of meetings being below that of last year. It is pro-
posed that, in future, routine business shall be done by circulars among the
Committee, actual meetings being convened only when emergent or debated
questions arise. As the College is now fairly started the administrative work
has become mainly of the routine nature and can, to considerable extent, be
disposed of by the Superintendent without reference to the Committee; but
when such reference is necessary it can in future be made either by circular or
by special meeting.
16. As regards appliances for purposes of study considerable progress has
been made. Especially have the practical facilities increased by considerable
growth of Hospital practice. As will be seen from the Hospital report, the
number both of in-patients and out-patients has increased very considerably, and
there has been a proportionate increase in dispensing. It is very evident that
if the Hospital pratice increases in coming years as it has done, and as the same
College classes increase, the present clinical staff will be quite inadequate for its
duties.
B 330—2