106
to the Imperial
Bacteriologist.
this period, the Government of India informed him that they were prepared to
recommend his engagement until 31st August 1898, the date on which
Dr. Lingard's engagement also ceases; his pay was then fixed at Rs. 550 without
exchange compensation. Mr. Bamber accepted these terms, but subsequently,
on receipt of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State's Despatch sanction-
ing his appointment on the terms above mentioned, he objected to a number of
points, and submitted his resignation. This having been accepted by the
Government of India, he resigned on 24th March 1897.
Appointment of
successor
to
Mr. Bamber.
552. The question of a successor was carefully considered, and as
Dr. Lingard was proceeding to England on three months' privilege leave, it was
suggested that he should be consulted in the choice of his Assistant. This was
done with the result that the Right Honourable the Secretary of State appoint-
ed Dr. J. W. W. Stephens. This gentleman is a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of
Medicine and Surgery, and a Diplomate in Public Health, Cambridge. He has
filled the office of Assistant to Professor E. Klein, F.R.S., and for some time
has filled a like appointment under Dr. A. A. Kanthack, lately appointed Profes-
sor of Pathology and Bacteriology in the University of Cambridge. He held a
Pathological and Bacteriological Research Scholarship presented by the Treasurer
of St. Bartholome'ws Hospital, and a grant in money from the Scientific
Research Committee of the British Medical Association.
553. The terms of his appointment are that the appointment should be
for five years, that his pay be Rs. 900 per mensem rising annually by Rs. 30
a month, that exchange compensation allowance should be allowed, and that, if
his services are retained after the expiry of five years, he will become eligible
for pension and leave under the Civil Service Regulations, which may be
applicable to his case, with effect from the beginning of his service in India.
554. The above terms are liberal, and I trust will be the means of our
retaining Dr. Stephens' services; as from the high qualifications which he
possesses, I anticipate that Dr. Lingard will find in him a valuable Assistant,
especially as during his absence, he will be able to continue the series of observ-
ations upon which he may be engaged, when it is necessary that he should
leave the Laboratory to visit the scene of any outbreak with a view of collect-
ing material for research.
Result of Gene-
ral Sir
John
Watson's
visit
to
India
in
1895-96.
555. As a result of Sir John Watson's visit to India in 1895-96, a report
was submitted to the Under Secretary of State for India, in which that officer
makes certain recommendations with which I regret I cannot agree, and, as
professional Adviser to the Government of India on questions affecting the
breeding of horses in this country, I feel compelled to record my opinion.
556. He first expresses his surprise at the facility with which the country-
bred remounts of the 5th Lancers and 18th Hussars carry the heavy European
trcoper. This, being the result of 20 years' breeding on the present system,
must be looked upon as satisfactory. He, however, states that he does not
consid er that these horses are up to 17 stone, and in this opinion I concur.
557. He then enters into the much vexed question of whether the
Thoroughbred or the Hackney begets the best remounts, and gives the result
of an experiment which was the selection of :—
30 Remounts—10 sired by Thoroughbreds.
10 „ „ Hackneys.
10 „ „ Arabs.
The best 10 were selected out of the lot and were found to be sired by the
following:—
5 by Hackneys.
4 „ Arabs.
1 „ Thoroughbreds.
This, however, in my opinion can be no guide. In the first place, General
Sir J. Watson is known to be a great admirer of the Hackney and naturally
would select remounts closely resembling this type of horse, but, putting this
aside, it is not as a 4-year old that complaints are made of the progeny of the
Hackney stallion, it is when put to work that they are found to fail. I have,
however, entered so fully into this question elsewhere, that I feel it would be
superfluous to discuss the matter more fully.