FROM
To
No. 25. 25.
THE PRINCIPAL OF THE NAGPUR SCHOOL OF MEDICINE,
Central Provinces.
THE SECRETARY TO THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER,
Central Provinces.
Dated Nagpur, the 9th June 1874.
SIR,
The seventh 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 Sixth annual
report of the progress of the school.
2. At the close of the preceding session, March 31st 1873, 24 students remained
under instruction; and on the 1st of June 20 new students, attached to the school by
order of the Surgeon General, Indian Medical Department, reported themselves for admission.
3. Of the 20 new students, 2 were inhabitants of Nagpur, 6 came from Jabalpur, 3 from
Narsinghpur, 1 from Betul, 1 from Hoshangabad, 1 from Sagar, 1 from Indore, 1 from Hyder-
abad, 2 from Arcot and 2 from Madras. 14 therefore belonged to the Central Provinces
and 6 to other districts. 14 were Mussalmans and 6 Hindus.
4. At the commencement of the session 1873-74 there were therefore 44 students. Of
these, 8 were dismissed for incapacity and inattention; and 11 proved qualified by examina-
tion, have been admitted into the Hospital Assistant Class. 25 students therefore remain on
the rolls at the close of the session. But of these, 1 has for some time continuously absent-
ed himself, and 1 has expressed his wish to resign. Both of these have been recommended for
dismissal.
5. It is to be regretted that the batch of students sent to the school at the commence-
ment of the session contained so many young men of inferior qualifications, fitted neither by in-
clination nor capability for their work. It has furnished the whole number above mentioned
as absconded, dismissed and reported for dismissal. Of the 20, thus 10 only remain; of
these, 4 are very intelligent, and 5 of fair ability, diligent and likely to succeed. It seems
probable that under the present method of selection this will always be the case. The entrance
examination is not of a very rigid character, and this passed, the most incapable candidate is
pretty safe during the year he is attached to a Military hospital or dispensary with little or
nothing to do. The real test comes when he is required to enter upon an actual course of
study in a school, and the inevitable result is the failure of the idle and incapable. Continued
experience confirms me in the opinion that the preliminary year of so called training at a
dispensary or Military hospital is altogether useless. It deters the better educated class
from seeking admission into the service and furnishes a twelve months secure pay to the idle
and incapable. Thus in every way it entails a loss on Government. To ensure a regular
supply of efficient Hospitals Assistants from among the present class of young men, a larger
number of students should be annually sent to the school with a view to their being weeded
as speedily as possible.
6. With reference to the relative number of admissions from different districts, and the
causes of the variation in it which occur from year to year, I find I did not in my last year's
report furnish any explanation. I may now state that the increase in the number of residents
of these Provinces sent to the school, is due to the action of the Surgeon General, who alone
distributes pupils to the various schools. I gather from the notices put forth by the Surgeon
Z M 20—186—286