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                       PART II.—PROVINCIAL REPORT.

                        V.—VETERINARY INSTRUCTION.

1068.    Examinations were held at Lahore, Rajputana, Bombay, and Bengal
Schools and Colleges and as usual, the Assistant to the Inspector-General, Civil
Veterinary Department, was deputed as a Member of the Board of Examination
at each.

1069.    In his final report, this Officer makes certain suggestions which have
been submitted for the consideration of the Government of India, but whilst
agreeing with all his recommendations I consider that it will be better to defer
all questions referring to curriculum, teaching, &c., at the various schools, until
that of a Subordinate Veterinary Establishment is decided on, when a Conference
of the Principals of all the Schools might be held to decide upon the changes
which are necessary to ensure more uniformity than now exists.

Bombay
Veterinary
College.

1070.    The examination was held at Bombay from 29th August to 4th
September 1897. The following Officers formed the Board of Examiners:—

                                                President.

      Veterinary-Captain Morgan, Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
            ment, Bombay.

                                                Members.

      Veterinary-Captain Gunn, Assistant to the Inspector-General, Civil
            Veterinary Department.

      Veterinary-Lieutenant Axe, Army Veterinary Department,

1071.    The Government having ruled that the examinations were to be held
solely by the Examiners named and the teaching staff was not to be employed on
the Board, this was carried into effect for the first time. Each lecturer, responsi-
ble for his subject, was present with the Examiner at each table to act as
"Moderator."

1072.    At my suggestion, the Government of Bombay named a Conference,
composed of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay, the Princi-
pal and Assistant Principal, to consider various suggestions that had been made
by the Board of Examiners. It was decided:—

      (a)—That 100 marks should be allotted for Operative Surgery instead
            of 50.

      (b)—That the vacation should be continuous for 3 months as at other
            Schools.

      (c)—That the examinations should be held from 10th to 20th December,
            and that the College should re-open on 4th January.

      (d)—That the duration of the examinations should be laid down at 10
            days. This latter recommendation is very necessary, as on this
            occasion they were confined to 7, and it was found that the strain
            was too great both on the examiners and the students.

1073.    At the commencement of the year there were 69 students on the
College rolls. There were only 7 entries against 25 last year, this no doubt being
due to the prevalence of Bubonic Plague in Bombay.

1074.    The following table will show the number of students- who presented
themselves for examination in each class as well as the number that were successful.