2
(a) In Operative Surgery the marks should be altered from 50
to 100.
(b) Vacation.—The vacation should be a continuous one for three
months, i.e., from 1st April to 30th June.
(c) Change of the Date of the Examinations.—The examinations should
be held from the 10th to 20th December, and the opening day of the College
should be 4th of January.
(d) Duration of Examinations.—That the duration of the examinations
should be laid down at ten days. This is a very necessary measure; for to
attempt to carry out examinations in seven days, as was done in September
last, which had heretofore taken from ten to twelve days with eight exa-
miners instead of three, is incompatible with the mental and physical capa-
bilities of the students, and I as Principal hope never to see it repeated.
Information relating to
students.
3. On the 1st April 1897 there were 69 students on the College rolls.
There were only 7 fresh entries during the year as
against 25 and 21 in 1896-97 and 1895-96, respect-
ively. This year all the fresh entries were in Class
A, no student having joined under concession. Twenty-three students left the
College during the year—2 from Class C, 5 from Class B, and 9 from Class
A—mainly owing to their failures at the examinations and inability to continue
their studies. Seven graduated in September.
The prevalence of the Bubonic Plague in Bombay and in the mofussil had
also an effect on the entries and withdrawals. More than 100 applications for
admission were received and it was expected that at least about 25 students
would join in January last. But many of them were induced to give up the
idea on account of quarantine difficulties and the fear of remaining away from
their families in Bombay in the midst of the epidemic.
It is, however, noticeable that many of the students who passed through the
plague of the last year, and who then absented themselves from their studies
through fear, have this year remained at College, although the disease was just
as prevalent. Consequently, the attendance was what might be termed fair as
compared with the previous year.
Out of the seven students that joined during the year, one came from Sind
and one from Nágpur.
Appendix D shows the number of students of different nationalities on
the College rolls at the end of the year. In the fresh entries there are three
Pársis, two Hindus, and two Mahomedans.
Appendix E shows the number of students attending, supported by Native
States, Local Boards, Municipalities, &c. The number of students that
attended under this head was 8 as against 14 and 13 in 1896-97 and 1895-96,
respectively. Of the 8 students 4 were Hindus, 2 Mahomedans, and 2 Native
Christians. Three students left the College, having graduated, and three on
account of their stipends having been withdrawn as they were making bad
progress.
Employment of graduates,
and the two years' course.
4. Out of the seven graduates that passed this year, one has established
himself in private practice at Bangalore and the
remainder have obtained employment—one in charge
of the State. Veterinary Dispensary at Wadhwán ; one
in charge of the State Paddock at Manavadar on a salary of Rs. 70 ; two as
Itinerating Veterinary Officers under the District Local Boards of Belgaum and
Shikárpur, each on a salary of Rs. 50 rising to Rs. 100; one is acting as
Lecturer on Anatomy at the College ; and one as Instructor in Shoeing.
From the previous graduates one has got employment in the Por-
bandar State on a salary of Rs. .100. At my suggestion, the Bombay Munici-
pality has entertained the services of a graduate of this College on a salary of
Rs. 125, with a travelling allowance of Rs. 25, for inspecting milch and other
cattle in the town of Bombay with a view to prevent the spread of rinderpest,
foot and mouth disease, and other diseases—especially those communicable or
injurious to man. I am glad to be able to add that it is also intended to employ
a second graduate in a similar capacity.