4
position to pay the College fees, to give men from outlying districts the pre-
ference over Bombay applicants, and to select those with the best general educa-
tion. The Agricultural Societies of Poona and Nadiád were each given the privi-
lege of nomination of one of the free students: the former sent up a Hindu
who is doing well; the latter a Mahomedan who never settled to his work properly,
and at length tendered his resignation. The Bombay Municipility, I understand,
tried to secure three suitable candidates of different castes, but, finally, had to send
up three Pársis.
The fact that non-matriculates are admitted at our College has attracted many
students, often very excellent and suitable young men. Another inducement is the
fact of our course extending over only three years, whereas the medical occupies
five. Our Bombay students, especially, are drawn from the same class as those
of the Grant Medical College, some of them having brothers or other immediate
relations in the medical profession, and a few have studied in the Grant College,
but have entered our institution induced probably by the prospect of less severe
or less prolonged studies. Several medical men applied for admission, but,
on finding they would have to study for two years before graduation, withdrew
their names. The Central Provinces' Government is trying the interesting
experiment of educating qualified hospital assistants as veterinary practitioners.
Under our regulations they are excused each one year of study on account of
their previous medical knowledge, they constitute the nucleus of a second year's
class, and the two men sent up have as such, since Christmas last, been receiving
the prescribed second year's instructions,—several of the College Staff also at-
tending the lectures on veterinary subjects as delivered to them.
The number of students enrolled by no means represents the total number
of applicants. Some one hundred and fifty have entered into correspondence
with the Superintendent, and either not turned up, appeared for the entrance
examination and then retired, attended for a short time and decided not to con-
tinue their studies, or obtained some employment more likely to be immediately
profitable to them. It has been deemed judicious to in no way whatever exercise
any pressure on candidates; so they have always been given ample time, before
paying fees and being enrolled, to thoroughly understand the nature of the work
they are about to undertake. In the future, when veterinary practitioners and
students are available to give evidence of what veterinary work really is and
comprises, it will be advisable to enforce entrance at the commencement of the
teaching year, and to require that a small portion of the first half-year's fees be
paid before candidates are submitted to the entrance test, as a fee to prevent
unnecessary labour on the part of the examiners; but such measures would, as
yet, be premature.
Some students give as their reason for having entered the College that it is
something new, and so that they can reasonably anticipate obtaining employment after
graduation, and all have proved keen to be among the first batch of graduates.
This tends to prove that outlets for the energies of educated natives are needed
and the want felt, and must prove an encouragement for all measures tending in
this direction, and from this point of view justify the establishment of the
College.
A few students have joined in the hope that the Bombay Veterinary College
will be affiliated with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of the United
Kingdom, and its diploma recognised as a " Colonial" one, exempting its holder
from two years of professional study in Great Britain for the Royal College of
Veterinary Surgeons' diploma. Under sanction of the College Committee, I have
addressed the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in London, with a view to
securing this recognition of the status of our College.
Considering that students on entering have had no knowledge of a veteri-
nary profession to attract them (since the Native veterinary professional body
is entirely a thing of the future, there being as yet not a single diplomaed veteri-
nary practitioner), also that no promise of Government service for successful
graduates could be given, but simply the probability of Government requiring
competent practitioners for cattle-disease repression pointed out, it is remarkable
that so many candidates presented themselves, and that so many have been able
to withstand the weeding process of unexpected severity of work. The general
impression was that, as being the first batch of students, they would have easier
work than those who enter hereafter; whereas they really have had greater diffi-
culties to contend with than will those of future years, as the lecturers are new
to their duties, the College and Hospital work has been in process of develop-