Bombay Veterinary College: Annual Report of the — for 1886-87.
No. 5540.
REVENUE DEPARTMENT.
Bombay Castle, 20th August 1887.
Letter from the Superintendent, Bombay Veterinary College, No. 267, dated 27th April
1887—Submitting the first annual report of the College; and appending a copy of
his report of the Bái Sákarbái Dinsha Petit Hospital for Animals for the year 1886.
RESOLUTION.—In this interesting report Mr. Steel, after describing the
arrangements preliminary to the opening of the Bombay Veterinary College on
2nd August 1886, refers in some detail to the reasons which he considers have
induced students to join it, and gives a concise account of the progress made
up to the 31st March 1887. He has appended a copy of his report for 1886
on the Bái Sákarbái Dinsha Petit Hospital for Animals on which the College
depends for clinical instruction. It must be a source of gratification to the
charitable founder of this institution to note that in the first year after its
foundation, the number of cases sent for treatment has reached an average of
183 per mensem.
2. A large number of applications for admission to the College were
originally received, but the number of students eventually admitted was 69, of
whom 5 subsequently resigned or ceased to attend. Twenty-eight were Pársis
and 27 Hindus, the rest being Mahomedans, Portuguese, Jews, Europeans and
Eurasians. Fifteen students (almost all Hindus) were sent to the College by
Native States and 2 by the Administration of the Central Provinces. The progress
made by the students appears to have been satisfactory, but their tendency
to prefer book work to practical studies is remarked by the Superintendent
who has endeavoured to counteract it. Discipline has been maintained without
difficulty.
3. A small library and a museum have already been provided for the
College, but the Governor in Council has in Resolution in Revenue Department,
No. 4062, dated 4th July 1887, expressed his inability at present to sanction the
salary of a proposed joint librarian and museum curator. A forge and a dis-
secting room have also been completed but the courses for practical shoeing
and practical anatomy have not yet been commenced. Mr. Steel's proposals
regarding the erection of a practical examination shed and operating room and
for extending the museum over a porch in front of the College have been dis-
posed of by Government Resolution, Public Works Department, No. 467-c.w.—
1235, dated 11th August 1887.
4. The Committee of Management appointed by Government Resolution
No. 5572 of 5th August 1886 held four meetings during the period under
report, elected free students, and drew up rules for the administration of the
College. It has been arranged to test the progress of the students by an ex-
amination at the end of each year's course, and Mr. Steel explains in general
terms the subjects of the three examinations to be passed, success in the last
of which will qualify a student for a diploma as graduate of the Bombay Veteri-
nary College. An application has been made to the Royal College of Veteri-
nary Surgeons of the United Kingdom with a view to getting this diploma
recognized as a "Colonial" one, entitling its holder to exemption from two years
of professional study in Great Britain for the R.C.V.S. diploma. Mr. Steel
should be asked to convey the thanks of Government to the gentlemen who
have offered the prizes detailed in his 12th paragraph.
5. This report contains very little information about the receipts and
expenditure of the College; this the Superintendent is requested to supply in
future reports. It appears that students' fees amounting to Rs. 1,885 have been