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9. In June 1897 Dr. Kenneth McLeod, writing to the Director of Land Records, says :—
"I consider a three years' course at least absolutely necessary for the adequate education
and training of Veterinary Assistants."
10. In April 1897 the Board of Examiners (Veterinary-Captain Gunn and Veterinary-
Captain Martin, made the following statement:—
"The examiners, both of whom have had practical experience in veterinary education
of natives in India, as a result of the examinations held at Belgatchia, recommend that the
course of instruction be extended from two to three years, in order that the students may be
better trained in practical matters, in which they are extremely backward. They are of
opinion that practical knowledge is of the utmost importance, and this cannot be obtained in
two years by students who have no previous knowledge of animals, either in health or
disease."
11. In a report to the Director of Land Records (No. 77V.D.—97, of 26th January
1897) I made the following remarks:—"Duration of the curriculum.—As regards intellect
and power of acquiring book knowledge, our students will compete successfully with most,
but as regards the assimilation of practical knowledge and capacity to face small discomforts
they are certainly behind any other class of men I have met: so much so, that I have
occasional misgivings as to the amount of success our present graduates will meet with when
first promoted to Government appointments. I am quite aware that they are only intended
to be Veterinary Assistants, and not Veterinary Surgeons ; but under whatever name they
may exist, they will have the management of serious disease, and it will largely depend
upon their knowledge and their zeal as to whether the losses be great or small. I have no
hesitation in saying that even an English lad, taught under present conditions, would not
acquire sufficient practical knowledge, during the present period of study, to fit him to do
justice to an independent appointment. If that be true, how much more time is necessary
to train Bengalis, whose good points we know, but whose weak ones are sufficiently apparent.
"I have heard comparisons made between the various Indian veterinary schools, and
I believe something has been said about uniformity of instruction. It is sufficient for my
purpose to point out that the various schools are in the centre of different races of men.
The trite sentence that a Punjabi is a Punjabi, a Mahratta a Mahratta, and a Bengali a
Bengali, is at the root of the whole matter from a veterinary point of view, and since the
Government has decided to establish a Veterinary Department in Bengal, it seems reasonable
to ask that the necessary special training for Bengalis should also be sanctioned.
"That special training cannot be carried out under three years, and I would be glad if
four years could be devoted to it. At any rate, more time for practical instruction is
essential. But the extra time should be almost entirely devoted to practical training.
"The Government does not want chemists, nor botanists, nor bacteriologists: it wants
thoroughly good practical clinicians, who may be trusted to know what they are about in
presence of sick animals."
12. In my Annual Report, 1896-97, page 2, paragraphs 12 and 13, I state:—"The
strong points of the students at Belgatchia, namely, their knowledge of English, intelligence,
good caste, ability to write reports, are those that would qualify them for employment as
senior Veterinary Assistants, but as they are weak in practical matters, I consider that an extra
year of study is essential to fit them to gain the confidence of the people, upon which such
stress is very rightly laid in Government of India Resolution No. 1436/19-6, 1895.
This view is
shared by the Board of Examiners which sat at Belgatchia recently, and these gentlemen
have recommended that the curriculum be extended by another year to meet the special
weakness of Bengali students. In considering this matter, we should not forget that a two
years' course does not mean two years devoted to training, owing to the fact that about 280
days of the two years are taken up by vacations and holidays."
13. It will be seen from the above quotations that the consensus of opinion is strongly
in favour of a three years' course of study.
14. With regard to paragraph 7 of India's letter, I beg to say that in my opinion the
senior or inspecting grade of veterinary graduates should be recruited from zealous and
successful men in the junior grade, just as subalterns in the Army by good service work
upwards. This will have the advantage that it will offer encouragement to the junior
grades to work and keep themselves up to date by prospects of promotion; it will also pro-
duce a senior grade of experienced men who, having learned their business in the lower
rank, will know what they are about when promoted.
15. With regard to the fear expressed in paragraph 3 of India's letter that the men
who have studied three years will be too refined for work, I beg to say that under the
suggested system this fear will not in my opinion be fulfilled. On the contrary, I imagine
that, stimulated by prospects of promotion, the junior grades will work all the better.