Proceedings of the Hon'ble the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab in the Revenue and Agricultural
(General) Department, No. 1751 S., dated 5th September 1903.
READ—
Letter No. 1940, dated 1st August 1903, from the Director of Land Records and Agriculture,
Punjab, submitting the Annual Report on the Punjab Veterinary College and the Civil
Veterinary Department for the year 1902-03.
The Punjab Veterinary College.
REMARKS.—The number of students on the rolls of the Veterinary
College during the year was 128 as compared with 130 during the previous year,
56 new students being admitted as against 65 in the latter year. The results of
the examinations in the 1st and 2nd year classes show a distinct falling-off on
those of previous years, but on the other hand the results of the examination
for the 3rd year class which was held for the first time were very satisfactory,
18 out of 24 candidates qualifying. The falling-off in the former case occurred
mainly amongst the military students, who, with few exceptions, had received
very little primary education, and the Military authorities have recently been
addressed on the subject with a view to greater care being exercised in
the selection of students and to alterations being made in their course of
training. The remarks made in paragraph 5 of the Board of Examiner's Report
(Appendix I) should be communicated to the Director of Land Records and
Agriculture, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, and to the Director-General
of the Remount Department.
The Principal also attributes, no doubt justly, the low results in the
1st and 2nd year classes to the want of a sufficient teaching staff,
and it is greatly to be regretted that the European Professor attached to
the College had to be removed from his duties for nearly ten months.
In this connection the Lieutenant-Governor can only repeat what was said
in last year's report—that it is to be hoped, now that the Civil Veterinary
Department is being recruited from home, that a sufficient number of officers
will be available to replace casualties. The question of the appointment of
a 3rd European Professor should be separately referred to Government for
orders.
2. The competition for entrance to the College was much below the aver-
age, and this is said to be due to the severity of the examination and to the exten-
sion of the course to three years. Students are also said to be attracted to Veteri-
nary Colleges in other Provinces where the course is only two years and a diploma
can be more easily obtained, and it is observed that the Inspector-General, Civil
Veterinary Department, has been addressed in the matter with a view to
something being done to regulate the issue of diplomas and to place all teaching
establishments on the same footing. The Principal is of opinion that the supply
of Veterinary Assistants is now in excess of the demand, but this view is not
shared by the Director of Land Records. The excellent reports received on the
Veterinary Assistants who went to South Africa and have since returned are
gratifying, and the Lieutenant-Governor hopes that every effort will be made to
get them employment.
3. In both the in-door and out-door work of the College there was a large
increase in the number of equine and other cases treated and the shoeing-smiths
class continues to be well reported on.
4. The Lieutenant-Governor agrees with the Director of Land Records
that, having regard to all the difficulties which Veterinary-Major Pease has had
to contend with, the results of the year's work are satisfactory.
The Civil Veterinary Department.
5. The organisation of the Department continued as before, but as a
consequence of the recommendation of the Horse-breeding Commission the
Subordinate Veterinary Service will now have to be reorganised. Proposals for
the appointment of a grade of Veterinary Inspectors, the desirability of which
is manifest from many remarks in the Report, will shortly be submitted for the
sanction of the Government of India.