198
The increase is satisfactory, but still I fear that the cattle practice falls very
short of the requirements, for it is in this branch that we require practical men.
1088. The great want in this school is a contagious disease ward, for when
it is considered that the students leave this institution without even having seen a
case of Rinderpest or even of Foot and Mouth disease, it will be at once imagined
how unable they are to cope with the work which is expected of them. In equine
practice it is of the greatest importance that Veterinary Assistants should be able to
detect Glanders, and that they should be able to test cases by the use of Mallein, but
such teaching is impossible without a contagious disease ward.
1089. The shoeing done at this institution is about the same as last year.
The number attending the class for Nalbunds was increased from 6 to 9. This is
a very popular and at the same time a most useful class.
1090. The demand for Veterinary Assistants still continue to be large. The
Principal reports that there are no men unemployed. He adds:—
Owing to the strain thrown on the Transport Department this year, a great number of qualified men were asked
for, but as we had only 12 men on our register, who were out of employment, there was considerable difficulty in
meeting the demand, and the Military Authorities were obliged to entertain any man who had any sort of qualification.
In the course of the correspondence which took place on this subject, with the Military Authorities, the following
letter was sent to the Commissary General and the recommendation was acted on with good results, a great number
of men being found in the ranks of the Native Cavalry regiments.
Letter No. 488, dated 27th September 1897 to the Commissary General in Chief, Simla.
'I have today telegraphed to you on the subject of the employment of the excess Veterinary Assistants, Graduates
of this college, belonging to the various regiments of Native Cavalry which are not on Field Service, I believe, that
there are a number of men in excess of the requirements in the various regiments, and it seems a pity that their ser-
vices should not be made use of at the present when the demand for Veterinary Assistants is far in excess of the supply.
It seems to me that the arrangement would be beneficial to the Government as well as to the men themselves, as they
would get practice, and experience and would constitute a very useful reserve in case of necessity.'
1091. This must be looked upon as a very useful war reserve, but it is not
only in this direction to which we can look as a reserve; the Civil side also was
requisitioned, and a number of Veterinary Assistants in the employ of District
Boards volunteered for service with the Tirah Expeditionary Force and were
allowed to go. From North-Western Provinces and Oudh alone 6 were so em-
ployed. The Principal of the Lahore School states with reference to men who were
temporarily employed:—
I regret to say that although the promised improvement in the position of Transport Veterinary Assistants has
affected the permanent men, those temporarily employed are very much dissatisfied with their lot. I received peti-
tions during the recent operations from no less than forty of these men, and it does not seem to me that they will again
be willing to go on service.
1092. I trust that this matter which is of imperial importance will be
brought to the notice of the Government of India in order that any points which
can be rectified may be dealt with, as if dissatisfaction exists amongst them, these
volunteers will not be forthcoming on future occasions.
1093. On the subject of Veterinary Assistants serving under District Boards,
Veterinary-Captain Pease writes as follows:—
In regard to the employment of men in the districts, there is still a good demand, but I can only repeat once
more the urgent necessity which exists for the organisation of these men into a Department, if it be desired to obtain
the full benefit which might be derived from their work. The men are in want of rules and directions as to what their
work should be and how it should be done, for in the majority of cases they are capable of doing excellent work, but
until the long expected Civil Veterinary Department takes some definite shape, we cannot expect that much progress
can be made in this direction. Complaints are often heard as to the manner in which District Veterinary Assistants
perform their duties, but when it is considered that the men have no orders to guide them and no one to show them what
their work is, or how it should be done, and in some cases meet with actual obstruction, it is not astonishing that under
the circumstances they sometimes lose heart and become idle and useless. I have met with Veterinary Assistants in the
districts whose books had been taken from them immediately after they had passed their examination, who had no
instruments nor medicines, and it cannot be expected that in these circumstances any success is possible. On the other
hand, there are very many instances of Graduates of the College who, having been rationally treated, have done excellent
work.
1094. Referring to the usefulness of the Lahore Veterinary School, Veteri-
nary-Captain Pease states:—
A number of Graduates have obtained employment in Uganda during the year and will, it is hoped, do good work.
It is satisfactory to find that there are plenty of volunteers for service abroad and that we have men employed and
receiving good pay in various posts in neighbouring countries and working well, and some Graduates occupying positions
as teachers in other Veterinary Schools in India.
1095. Veterinary-Captain Pease enters very fully into the question in-
volving the extension of the course of training at this institution from 2 to 3
years and with his recommendations I, in a great measure, concur. I am of