9
(4). The Lady Sákarbái Cattle Ward, presented by Lady Dinshaw
Petit.
(5). An ornamental tablet presented by Sir Dinshaw Mánekji
Petit, Knight, detailing the early history of the Institution.
Nos. 1, 2, and 3 were 'opened by His Excellency Lord Reay in
March 1888.
Nos. 4 and 5 were opened by His Excellency Lord Lansdowne in
December 1888.
The Hospital Paddock has been improved, building of an isolation
ward has commenced, as also of an ornamental fountain and drinking trough ;
swinging partitions have been fixed in the Horse Ward No. I ; whitewashing
of wards and walls have been carried out thoroughly.
(e). Mr. K. M. Shroff (Secretary), Dr. S. K. Narimán (Resident
Veterinary Officer), and Mr. J. Bhickaji Davre (Manager) have been active
in promoting the interests of the Hospital.
(f). The need of trained animal attendants is insisted on ; the danger
of a public watering trough propagating glanders is pointed out ; the need
of a trained officer to superintend the arrangement and nursing of patients is
shown; and certain recommendations of new buildings and clinical appliances
are submitted.
(g). The statistical records show that the practice was varied and
most instructive to students. Stress is laid on the fact that the number of
examinations as to soundness is greater than in previous years.
The observations in this report show that during my absence in England
there has been completed a revolution as regards the relations of the College with
the Hospital, which is of benefit as relieving the College staff of some overwork
from which it was beginning to suffer, though it certainly is not a change for the
better as regards Hospital patients. In the first two years of the College work-
ing the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent were, under the Hospital
regulations, responsible for the proper feeding, grooming, fastening, exercise,
and general management of all patients ; also for the drainage, ventilation and
other sanitation of the wards,—financial matters being the only affairs of the
Hospital with which they had nothing to do. The original rules of the Hospital
were framed by the Hospital Committee of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals in this spirit, and a good amount of success followed the en-
forcement of those rules. Gradually, during the sickness and absence of the
Superintendent, those rules have become a dead letter ; and now, in accordance
with the strict terms of the agreement between the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals and Government, "the Hospital enjoys the benefit of
curative treatment to animals from the staff of the College." Under these
circumstances, submission of the Hospital Report in full to Government (as in
previous years) would be superfluous. It is satisfactory under these new
conditions that, though not the valuable practical exemplification of perfect
hygiene it might be, the Hospital continues to give good facilities for clinical and
practical study by students and to progress in the estimation of the public. It is
unfortunate that many most instructive and severe cases are sent away by the
Hospital authorities in order that they may not swell the list of fatalities, occupy
the wards overlong, or prove in other ways unsatisfactory. Finally, we are
much indebted to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the clinical
facilities its Hospital affords to our students ; and I believe the College staff has
performed its Hospital duties with as much success and zeal for the advancement
of the interests of the Hospital as conditions would admit of.
17. The Chemical Laboratory has been completed and is a valuable
addition to our College branches of practical study; its fittings and equipment
are now also complete, and in the coming year the students shall pass through
a course of practical chemistry as applied to veterinary science. I have drawn
up a syllabus (shortly to be submitted to Government)—a duty which would
have been performed by the Lecturer on Chemistry had he known what infor-
mation on practical chemistry veterinary students may reasonably be expected
and required to acquire in the time available.
B 376—3