94
487. The summer session commenced on 1st May 1893. Forty-nine new
students entered the college, of whom 19 were military, 11 were scholarship-
holders from District Boards, and 19 were free.
488. The winter session commenced on 21st October 1893. The senior
class then numbered 35 and the junior 49, making a total of 84. Of the 35,
26 passed as Veterinary assistants at the examination held in April. Of these
7 belonged to Native Cavalry, one to the Remount Department, and 3 to
Native States. The latter I look upon as most important, as when the time
arrives at which we shall be ready with our organized staff of Veterinary
assistants, we shall require Native States to co-operate with us; otherwise our
endeavours to suppress contagious diseases will be greatly hampered by hav-
ing in our midst centres from which these diseases, so ruinous to the country,
will be disseminated. I would like to see the training of Veterinary assist-
ants for Native States carried on simultaneously with that which we are now
effecting for India.
489. With reference to the number of failures, viz., nine, the Principal,
Veterinary Captain Nunn, reports as follows :—
In comparing the results of the final examination this year with former years, it should
be borne in mind that the standard required to pass has been raised to the old first class, viz ,
40 per cent. in each subject and 50 per cent. of the total. The old second-class standard of
25 per cent. in each subject and 35 per cent. of total now only entitles the student to remain
another year in the college ; when, if he again fails, he has to leave. Had the old standard of
examination been in force, the whole of 35 would have passed, as the 9 who failed are en-
titled to remain one year and appear a second time ; this, 8 of them have notified their in-
tention of doing.
The results of the final examination have been forwarded to you. In this it will be
seen that 7 out of the 9 unsuccessful candidates failed in Surgery. The reason of this I fore-
told in paragraph 5 of the Annual Report of 1892-93; and I have nothing further to remark,
except to mention that from 29th March 1893, when Veterinary Lieutenant L. J. Blenkinsop,
Army Veterinary Department, formerly Professor at the College, left for England, to 8th
November 1893, when Veterinary Lieutenant H. A. Sullivan was appointed, I was
entirely alone.
Veterinary Lieutenant Sullivan, as was only to be expected, was sometime getting ac-
quainted with the practice and routine of the College, and, being a junior officer and not long in
India, was not well conversant with the Vernacular. He has unfortunately been ill since the 25th
of March and will have to take leave to England; so practically for at least 9 months of the
year, since Veterinary Lieutenant. L. J. Blenkinsop left, I have been alone; and hence the
large number of failures in Surgery, which is a subject that is more or less of a handicraft
and requires individual care and attention to be devoted to each student to ensure his acquir-
ing manual dexterity, and this care with the increase of the current work of the hospital and
College I am physically unable to give. Steps are, I believe, being taken to secure the
services of another officer in Veterinary Lieutenant Sullivan's place, but in any case it will
be some time before he gets accustomed to the routine and practice of the College, even if he
has had any previous experience of teaching; and I need hardly, I think, point out how abso-
lutely fatal such constant changes are to anything like systematic teaching and the very great
difficulties I have to contend with.
490. From the year now under review students wishing to enter the
College have to be in possession of the Middle School educational certificate.
The possession of this higher educational qualification will be the means of
bringing a superior class of students to the College. For 28 vacancies 77 ap-
plications were received, testifying to the popularity of the institution.
491. The practice at this institution shows a marked increase during the
year:—
(1) No. of indoor patients (Equine) ... ... ..
(2)
„ outdoor „
„ ... ... ..
(3)
„ indoor
„ (cattle and other animals) ...
(4)
„ outdoor „ ( do.
do.
) ...
(5)
„ horses shod ... ... ... ...
(6)
„ horses examined ... ... ...
1892-93.
447
896
20
784
985
61
1893-94.
485
1,404
85
809
1,082
32