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20. General Remarks.—During the year the College Syllabus was finally
sanctioned by Government and is now in the press.
21. The Examination Committee in their report on the College Exami-
nations consider the results satisfactory.
22. During the year under report the death occured of Mr. V. B. Phatak,
Head Clerk of the Principal's office. Mr. Phatak had held this position since
the College was first opened in 1886 and during this period he had performed
his duties with care and efficiency and to the entire satisfaction of his superiors.
By his death the College loses an officer of great experience in dealing with
students and Government a trustworthy and faithful servant.
23. Extra Duties.— During the year under report the officers of this
College have undertaken voluntarily certain extra veterinary work in order to
assist as far as possible the Military authorities during the present crisis. In
Bombay, during September there was an outbreak of Surra among the mules
of the Supply and Transport Corps and 17 mules were destroyed and burned
by this Department. In October and November there was an outbreak of
Glanders among the horses of 63rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery and 17th
Cavalry and 38 animals were destroyed, post mortem examinations made, and
the carcasses burned by this Department. These outbreaks of disease and
the post mortem examinations caused a not inconsiderable amount of
extra work to Mr. Sowerby, the Acting Principal, and the College staff.
Mr. Hewlett, the Principal of the College, was on 19th November appointed
Veterinary Officer to the Bombay Light Horse and placed in veterinary charge
of horses on the sick list in the Parel Cavalry Drafts Camp and to take charge
of all animals intended for one of the Expeditionary Forces found unfit to
embark. The Executive Committee of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, in order to enable Mr. Hewlett to do this, placed the
stabling in the Bai Sakerbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals at his disposal
and made other adequate arrangements for the treatment of the ordinary cases
of the Hospital. The Hospital authorities also assisted Mr. Hewlett by making
arrangements for feeding the horses and supplying him with the necessary
attendants. Mr. Hewlett assisted by the College staff was continuing to do
this work at the close of the year. In consequence of these arrangements
250 inpatients and 228 outpatients have been treated besides the ordinary
Hospital cases between the 16th November and 31st March. The Instructor
of Shoeing, ex-Staff Sergeant Farrier Town, also volunteered his services and
has fitted 201 sets of shoes to military horses at cost price of the material
used. During the month of December Mr. Sowerby, who is an officer of the
Bombay Volunteer Artillery, was called upon to do permanent military duty
in addition to his own proper work. He continued to do this until owing to
illness he was compelled to take leave. He returned to work on 10th March
and was continuing to perform both his civil and military duties at the close
of the year. Mr. Hewlett volunteered his further services early in January
and was appointed Embarkation Veterinary Officer and took over his duties as
such on January 27th. He was continuing to perform these duties in addition
to his own proper duties at the close of the year. In consequence of the
European Officers of the College being very fully occupied with the above-
mentioned extra duties much extra work devolved upon the whole Indian
staff. The Hospital duties were of an exacting nature and those engaged in
them could do but little else thus throwing on to others a considerable
amount of additional educational work. The office work was also greatly
increased. No holidays of any kind have been taken by the staff and
a large proportion of the students willingly gave up their short vacation to
assist as dressers in the Hospital.
24. The Principal desires to record his appreciation of the way in which
the College and Clerical Staff have performed their duties. All have worked
very well and have carried out their extra duties cheerfully and efficiently.
K. HEWLETT, I.C.V.D.,
Principal, Bombay Veterinary College.
N 15—2