(2)
they were taught. But Physiology is too difficult a science to go into to any
great extent; moreover the time at our disposal is insufficient.
In Rome respects I was not satisfied with the students. 1st, they were not
as manly as they might be; 2nd, owing to their previous ignorance of animals,
they were exceedingly awkward in handling them; 3rd, in clinical diagnosis
they were weak; 4th, in diagnosing lameness they were bad, and 5th, some
of them have been lazy. I shall try to remedy these defects.
12. The strong points of the students at Belgatchia, namely, their
knowledge of English, intelligence, good caste, ability to write reports,
are those that would qualify them for employment as senior veterinary
assistants; but as they are weak in practical matters, I consider that an
extra year of study is essential to fit them to gain the confidence of
the people upon which such stress is very rightly laid in Government of
India Resolution No. - 1436/ 19- 6, 1895. This view is shared by the Board of Examin-
ers which sat at Belgatchia recently, and these gentlemen have recommended
that the curriculum be extended by another year to meet the especial weak-
ness of Bengali students. In considering this matter, we should not forget
that a two years' course does not mean two years devoted to training, owing
to the fact that about 230 days of the two years are taken up by vacations
and holidays.
13. Having gained a reasonable knowledge of practical matters during the
extra year's training, they would be as well prepared to occupy senior veterinary
appointments in Bengal as the graduates of any other school. But I am most
strongly of opinion that it would be a serious mistake to put inexperienced
men, however high their qualifications, into senior appointments before they
have learned the work of the junior grade and shown their value; for it
does not follow that all men with high scholastic attainments are competent
to supervise other men. I suggest, therefore, that all our graduates should
start from the bottom and be promoted on their merits.
14. This subject has been fully discussed from the point of view of this
Department in other communications.
STIPENDS.
15. Fifteen Government stipends of Rs. 5 each per mensem were award-
ed in Class B. Thirteen of these went to students who had been successful
at the annual examination in March 1896, and two were given to two of the
five men plucked in the final. In Class A, fourteen Government stipends
of Rs. 5 each per mensem were awarded to students, as they only were consi-
dered to bo deserving. One stipend was not awarded. (Appendix V.)
16. Stipends, other than Government stipends.—Besides the stipends given by
Government, others were awarded by some District Boards, Municipalities and
Raj estates to young men sent by them.
17. I am not able to report that these young men have, as a whole,
shown their gratitude by hard work and success, as out of eight stipendiaries,
only three succeeded in passing their examination.
Of these:—
A. T. Dutt, sent by the Burdwan Raj, gained his certificate.
W. Dunne, sont by the Darjecling Municipality, and
A. T. Biswas, sent by the Chittagong District Board, both passed
into class B.
The following failed in the examination:—
Khobiral Hossein, from Burdwan Raj, has twice failed in his final,
and his stipend has been stopped by the Raj.
Ranjit Singh, sent by the Darjeeling Municipality, has failed in the
final.
P. S. Das Gupta, from the Chittagong District Board, has failed in the
final.
Alimusa, sent by the Patna District Board, has again failed in the first
examination, and his stipend has been stopped by the Patna
District Board.