172
whereby we shall be able to treat the cases earlier I look forward to a smaller death-rate in future. Two
municipal ponies suffering from glanders were also admitted into the hospital. The students have also been to
the Municipal Gowkhana to take temperatures of the cattle with the view of early detection of disease in con-
nection with the recent outbreak of rinderpest among the municipal cattle. The increase in the number of cases
treated at the college—from 1,034 to 1,530—has contributed considerably towards the clinical instruction of the
students during the year under report.
" I have also recommended that the Entally hospital, under the Bengal Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act,
VIII of 1880, be closed and its work transferred to Belgatchia. This will also afford a certain amount of clinical
instruction in the management of contagious cases, and at the same time cause a saving to the municipality of
about two-thirds of the cost of the Entally hospital."
" The number of operations performed in 1898-99 was 364 as against 272 last year, which shows an increase
of 92 over the last year.
" The ambulances.—The ambulances, as reported last year, continued to be of great service during the year
under report. The Principal of the Lahore Veterinary College requested me to furnish him with plans of one of
our ambulances, so that the Lahore Veterinary College might also benefit by the successful experiment that has
been carried out here.
THE FORGE.
" The number of horses shod in the Institution during the year 1898-99 was 393 as against 307 shod last
year, which shows an increase of 86 over the last year."
Bombay Veterinary
College.
732. The examination was held at Bombay on 10th December 1898 and
following days. The Examining Board consisted of the following officers:—
Veterinary Captain W. D. Gunn, Assistant to the Inspector
General, Civil Veterinary Department . . .
Veterinary Lieutenant F. S. H. Baldrey, Officiating Superin¬
tendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay. .
Veterinary Lieutenant W. O. Dawson, Army Veterinary
Department.
President.
Members.
733. For Class A or first examination, 12 students presented themselves,
of whom 6 passed. Percentage of passes 50. For Class B or second exami-
nation, 20 students were examined, and of these 16 proved successful. Per-
centage of passes 80. In the final examination of Class C, 15 students were
examined, of whom 8 passed, giving a percentage of 53 successes.
734. The President makes certain suggestions to improve the manner
in which the examinations should be conducted; these I have submitted to
the Government of Bombay for consideration.
735. The President, I regret to find, again brings to notice the careless
manner in which the students handled animals, but on the other hand he
reports that they showed considerable skill in surgery.
776. Although this Department is interested in all the examinations as
tending to build up that knowledge which is essential for the proper training
of students when called upon to pass their Final examination, still it is mainly
with this latter that we are concerned, and I would urge on all Principals and
Teachers the necessity of turning out good practical rather than theoretical
men.
737. The outturn at this college, as I have so frequently pointed out, is
totally inadequate when it is taken into consideration that it possesses a large
teaching staff and a large clinical practice. The result, viz., 8 passed students,
with two Gazetted Officers and three teachers, leads me to think that the
results do not justify the expenditure incurred.
738. Remarking on these points, the Principal of the College makes the
following remarks:—
" It is contended that the students of this college are deficient in practical knowledge, though they are
said to be good at operations, and that the college is unable to supply men for active service, connecting
this inability with the small number turned out. With reference to this connection, it is hardly necessary
for me to point out that constant endeavours are being made to turn out the students as practical men as
possible ; but the task is an extremely hard one, because of the fact that they are not, in the majority of
instances, recruited from the class of people who are brought up amongst animals, and it is hardly to be
expected that many students will come from this class, as their educational capabilities are not sufficiently
advanced to enable them to study here. The students of this college cannot be compared with those of other
veterinary institutions in India, because they are quite a different class and undergo a different training
and different tests.
" In regard to the professional value of the alumni of the college I cannot refrain from quoting a few
words from a speech delivered here by His Excellency Lord Harris :—
" Last year the calculation showed the average cost to Government was something between R400 and
R500 per head. But I do not consider that we ought not to grudge any amount of that kind devoted to such
a purpose. Of course, if the number of students is larger, the capitation grant will be decreased ; but I do
think we ought not to grudge that expenditure of public funds when you recognise that Bombay is the only