2
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE CIVIL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, BURMA.
On completion of training he returned to the Southern Shan States as
Veterinary Assistant.
Of the 13 pupils in the junior class one did not return to the school
after the holidays. He wrote to say that owing to the death of his father he was
urgently needed at home and did not wish to continue his classes. In January
another student asked for and obtained permission to return to his home owing to
the illness of his mother. He afterwards wrote to say that he did not wish to
return to the school, and asked to be released from his bond. Thus at the end
of the year there were 11 pupils in this class.
In contrast to the behaviour of the pupils last year, it is a matter of con-
siderable satisfaction to be able to state that the conduct of the present batch of
pupils has been exemplary in every way.
In accordance with the orders of Government a fresh batch of pupils was
admitted during the year. Some slight delay in forming this class was
unavoidable owing to the sanction of Government having been asked for
and awaited to the inclusion in the bond of a clause requiring pupils on
completion of the course to serve Government for three years if required.
Sanction to this having been duly received, 15 pupils were taken on, on this
understanding. Three pupils reported themselves in January 191 1, 6 in February
and 6 in March. Two of the batch finding the work anything but to their liking
returned to their homes.
Thus at the end of the year there were 13 pupils in
this class.
It may be mentioned here that these two vacancies have since been filled up
by two Kachin lads who were highly recommended by the Deputy Commissioner,
Bhamo, with a view to their ultimate employment on the frontier.
Analysis of the educational qualifications of the batch shews one pupil
possessed of an VIIIth standard Vernacular certificate, ten with Vllth stan-
dard and two with VIth standard certificates, while two likely-looking lads with
lesser qualifications were taken on on the recommendation of a Burmese gentleman
who has for years evinced great interest in the Department.
That the Veterinary Hospital and Dispensary are becoming better known
may be gathered from the fact that during the year 738 cases were recorded,
65 being in-patients, and 673 out-patients. Including in-patients the average
number of cases receiving treatment daily was 9. It may be considered that
this is a very small number of cases presented even for teaching purposes, but it
must be remembered that pupils are not too capable of at once understanding
and assimilating all the details of treatment of even one case let alone a large
number. Every case is thoroughly explained in detail to them ; there is no sepa-
rate hospital staff and the clinical demonstration of even a small number of cases
occupies a considerable amount of the time of the present small teaching staff in
the midst of their multifarious duties. There is evidence to show that if adequate
provision were made for the admission of in-patients, not only as regards proper
stabling arrangements but also in the matter of a staff sufficient for the needs of
a combined school, laboratory and hospital, this class of patients could be con-
siderably increased. Apart from any idea of an extensive Veterinary Hospital,
proper accommodation for a certain number of in-patients for demonstration
purposes is urgently required. It is impossible with the temporary stables at
present provided to admit certain classes of cases, the care and attention of
which, if Veterinary Assistants are intended to possess a general knowledge of all
branches of Veterinary Science, are most desirable for sound instruction in
clinique. It may be mentioned that one of the temporary buildings has recently
collapsed and the other is in a tottering condition.
The temporary laboratory was fully occupied during the year, the number of
slides alone examined amounting to 6,916. Without a knowledge of the details of
careful examination of a smear, figures alone do not give a correct idea of the
work entailed. The efforts of the staff have been taxed to the utmost to deal
with the amount of work now presented, and will be totally insufficient to cope
with much further increase.
Proposals are being submitted for the creation of the very necessary post of
Laboratory Assistant.