No. 61.
FROM
SURGEON MAJOR W. B. BEATSON, MD., F. R. C. S.,
Principal,Nagpur school of Medicine.
To
LINDSAY NEILL, ESQUIRE,
OFFG. SECRETARY TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER,
Central Provinces.
Dated Nagpur, the 10th July 1878.
SIR,
The eleventh session of the Nagpur School of Medicine having come to a close,
I have the honor to submit for the information of the Chief Commissioner my annual
report on the progress and working of the school.
2. A t the close of the preceding session on the 31st March 1877, 29 pupils remained
under instruction; and on the 1st of June 1877, 30 new students were attached to the
school by order of the Surgeon General, Indian Medical Department.
3. Of these, 29 only reported themselves ; one a Mohamedan, being unable to join on
account of ill-health, was dismissed from the service by order of Government. Of the 29
who joined the school in June last, 3 came from Damoh, 2 from Seoni, 1 from Saugor, 1
from Hoshangabad, 1 from Betul, 8 from Nagpur, 1 from Patna, 1 from Agra, 2 from
Allahabad, 3 from Madras, 1 from Delhi, 1 from Mirzapur, 1 from Bulandshaher, 1 from
Benares, 1 from Unoa, and 1 from Arcot. 14 therefore belonged to the Central Provinces,
and 15 to other parts of India. 14 were Mohamedans and 15 Hindus, 5 of the latter
being Mahratta Brahmins of Nagpur.
4. At the commencement of the session 1877-78 there were therefore 58 students ;
of these, in the course of the year, 14 were dismissed for general incapacity, inattention,
ill-health, and misbehaviour ; and 19 were found qualified on examination at the close of
the session for admission into the service as 3rd class Hospital Assistants. 25 students
therefore remain on the rolls at the close of the session. I have included in the number
that remain, the Mahratta Brahmin (Daji Sadasive, No. 1000) whose dismissal I have re-
commended for false and dishonest conduct, and whose retention in the school I consider
undesirable. He is a young man of good ability, but, in my opinion, no amount of ability
should condone gross misbehaviour. The order of his dismissal is not yet out, and he is
still therefore considered as one remaining on the rolls at the end of the session.
5. Of the 29 students admitted in June 1877, 5 require special mention. These 5
were Mahratta Brahmins of the Central Provinces ; of these, only 2 now remain to pro-
secute their studies. They have been found willing, but are naturally somewhat inapt,
and deficient in preliminary training, and I am therefore doubtful of their future success.
Of the other 3, one left the school of his own accord ; the remaining 2 have been
found deficient, have made very little progress, and have therefore been recommended for
dismissal. In the number of students passed out of school as qualified Hospital Assistants
on this occasion, one Maharatta Brahmin, Vishnu, of Nagpur, is included. This young man
has prosecuted his studies under great difficulties, and in spite of the violent opposition of
his friends and relatives, but with success. The passing of this young man is a source of
much satisfaction to the teachers and myself. He is well behaved and intelligent, and very
anxious to be employed in Nagpur. I would therefore beg to recommend him to the notice
of the Chief Commissioner, and hope that his case may receive favourable consi-
deration.
6. In proceeding with the usual course of instruction, it soon became evident that
although some of the 29 pupils were fair specimens of their class, they were, as a body
inferior to the general run of students admitted in previous years.
7.
It is to be regretted
that among the students sent to the school every year, there are so many young men of
inferior qualifications, fitted neither by inclination nor capability for their work. The new
students of this session furnish the whole number above-mentioned as absconded, dismissed,
and reported for dismissal. Thus of 29, 15 only remain. Of these, 4 are very intelligent ;
and 6 of fair ability, diligent, and likely to succeed. Of the ultimate success of the re
- m a i n i n g 5 I a m v e r y d o u b t f u l . I h a v e a l r e a d y i n p r e v i o u s r e p o r t s d w e l t o n t h e i n f e r i o r
qualifications of the majority of the young men sent to the school ; and it is evident that
my former remarks on this subject, the method of selection by a Military Committee, and
the disadvantages of a year's residence at a Civil dispensary or Military hospital, apply
with equal force on the present occasion.
8.
As I was absent on other duty at the beginning of the session I had no opportunity
of inspecting and examining the newly admitted pupils; this duty therefore devolved on my
locum tenens, who in August 1877, at the desire of the Surgeon General, Indian Medical De-
partment, held an examination of the newly admitted students for the purpose of ascertaining,
the extent of their general and professional qualification, and their progress and ability to