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students the fact that in entering our College they are beginning the responsible
work of life and have ceased to be school-boys ; they must know their own minds
and judge for themselves, especially in the all-important matter of selecting the
line of work to which they are to devote their lives.
Thus, from distaste for veterinary studies, from want of energy or ability
or general education and from other causes the unsuitable elements drop out of
our class-rooms to an extent; a few remain, but the general result of this elimi-
nation I feel to be good: the remainder can be relied on as good, or at any rate
zealous, students and the classes are freed from unwieldiness and elements liable
to be noisy or otherwise distracting. That in our second year we have admitted
27 men and retained 19 of them shows a gratifying evidence of our continued
popularity. In the first year we absorbed a number of men who for some time
had been awaiting the constantly deferred opening of the College, also the
students of those Native States looking anxiously for veterinary education, and
15 Government and Municipal free students; this year our numbers may fairly
be considered to have been increased by private and State students who have
been attracted by the success of our first year's work. The table of students
is as given in Appendix A.
There is still a great demand for free-studentships, and some young men
enter in the hope of sooner or later getting one, but this year few have been
given as only few vacancies were available. One Government free student be-
came a Baroda scholar, and there is a tendency noticeable on the part of the States
to obtain as scholars senior students the remains of whose education will cost less
than the full course for graduation. Students, naturally, gladly avail themselves
of these opportunities, and the little economy thus practised is not probably in
the main a disadvantage because it possibly increases the number of States
sending students and will lessen the number of graduates who have to make
their living in British territory and who in course of time will, like the doctors,
be found numerous enough and even somewhat crowded. This latter result, how-
ever, is in the very distant future; we yet remain the only College of the kind in
India; Madras and Bengal have already made slight official advances with a
view to obtaining some of our graduates; Burma likewise has had a suggestion
brought forward to make use of our College for education of its practitioners.
thus it may fairly be anticipated that the Bombay graduates will have plenty
of scope.
5. The following are to be added to the list of Native States' and
Provinces' students given in my last year's report:—
One more from the Berárs, and one more by the Junágad State. One each
by the Chief of Sángli, His Highness the Thákor Sáheb of Bhávnagar, and His
Highness the Thákor Sáheb of Gondal.
There is a gratifying tendency of the Native States to avail themselves
of the facilities for veterinary education placed at their disposal by the Bombay
Government. I have reason to believe that some of the Central India States
contemplate similar action, which, if carried into effect, will be sound testimony
to the progress of our College.
6. Order and discipline have been satisfactorily maintained in the College
throughout the year :no serious case of breach of discipline has. occurred.
7. The students have shown a satisfactory tendency towards physical
exercise and esprit de corps. Thus, a Gymkhána Club has been established, some
public criket matches have been played, and a lawn tennis court is to be
established on the Hospital premises by kind permission of the Trustees of the
Hospital estate. Under the heading Physical Education may be included the
subject of riding which was broached in my last report. As yet no satisfactory
organization for instruction in this important branch has been made, but every
opportunity has been taken by use of private animals lent for the purpose to
teach riding to such students as volunteer for the study. But little can be done
in this way, but the propounding of my definite scheme on the subject must
stand over until we have a farrier and some resident students. There was a
riding competition at some " sports " held by the students on the celebration of