203
793. The Principal should, in my opinion, not lose sight of the fact that
Bengal will be required to be equipped with a thoroughly efficient staff of
Veterinary Assistants when the Subordinate Veterinary Establishment is
sanctioned by the Government of India.
To make Senior Veterinary Assistants, we want men not only able to
submit reports and to be good theorists, but having, as they will, the
supervision of a number of Veterinary Assistants, they should be eminently
practical; and this has hitherto been the great failing of the Bengal student.
794. On this point the Assistant to the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary
Department, remarks in his report on the examination held at this institu-
tion :—
" The students examined at the Bengal Veterinary Institution were very deficient in practical knowledge.
The reason is no doubt that the students live such a distance from the school that they have no time to bestow
on the most valuable portion of their instruction, viz., the practical handling and personal care of the sick animals.
The hostel for the accommodation of the students, which will be shortly ready, will be a great boon both to
the students and the instructor, and the former will then be able to devote all their spare time to their
hospital duties. Moreover, the Superintendent will probably be able to get a better class of students from the
districts, who have a natural love of animals and who understand them. The present class are recruited from
the Babu community, and they know little of animals either in health or disease; it may therefore be under-
stood what a difficult task it is for the Principal and his staff to educate Veterinary Assistants with only two
years' training, out of such material."
795. During the year under review:—
479 in-patients were treated, against 437 last year.
248 out-patients
„
„
727
336
773
„
Although the total number of patients show a falling off of 46, still more
in-patients were admitted, which is satisfactory.
796. The students have had great opportunities of making themselves
acquainted with most of the contagious diseases which they will be called to
treat. The following cases having been admitted :—
13 cases of glanders.
40
„
rinderpest.
7 cases of foot and mouth disease.
8
„
tuberculosis.
3 cases of rabies.
I am glad to find by the Principal's report that the hostel for the accommo-
dation of the students is rapidly approaching completion, and I trust that when
it is occupied, it will have the desired effects anticipated by the Assistant
to the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, in the extract given
above.
On the subject of contagious diseases the Principal states:—
" Isolation boxes.—With regard to the isolation boxes, I am very anxious to have a special department
for contagious disease, which shall be so completely isolated in every way that no possibility of contact shall
exist. In this matter we are not in the same position as private practitioners: for they get rid of any animal
with contagious disease (such as glanders) at once, whereas we have to keep the patients, so that the students
may watch the progress of the malady; hence there is always a chance of contagion, unless exceptional
measures are taken.
" At the last moment R600 became available for the purchase of one of the two ambulances which had been
applied for. The use of these vehicles will relieve animals of the misery entailed by being walked along the
roads in an unfit state or of the alternative of being tied on to ordinary country carts. One ambulance will be
kept at the disposal of the Police, and whenever requisitioned, a Veterinary Assistant will be sent with it, so that
the patient may be properly looked after. The other ambulance will be used solely for contagious disease. At
present such cases (glanders, farcy, anthrax and foot and mouth disease), all of which are communicable to man
under certain circumstances, as well as to animals, have to be sent to the institution by moving along the public
roads. As regards rinderpest, the same thing happens, but it is believed that the Municipality will provide us
with means of combating this disease in a systematic manner."
On the subject of the staff employed at this institution the Principal
states:—
" The Assistant Superintendent.—Mr. Burke's duties have been well and zealously performed. Be is a
successful lecturer, a good anatomist and operator, and I have to thank him for the loyal and constant support
he has afforded me.
" Lecturers.—It is scarcely necessary to say that the quality of our graduates will be affected by the
quality of the instruction given. A good veterinary lecturer should not only possess knowledge, but have the
faculty of imparting it to others in a clear and instructing form. He should not only be zealous himself, but
able to excite enthusiasm in his pupils. His teaching must be sound and up to date (which by the way
involves a good deal of hard reading): above all things he must be practical in his methods. Needless to say
such men are not picked up everywhere nor every day.
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