A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY

I WAS really worried about Tricki this time. I had pulled up my car when I saw him in the street with his mistress and I was shocked at his appearance.

Tricki is name of a dog. The author (Dr. Herriot) says that he was really worried about Tricki. When I saw him with his mistress in the street, I stopped my car. I was upset to see appearance of Tricki.

He had become hugely fat, like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner. His eyes, bloodshot and rheumy, stared straight ahead and his tongue lolled from his jaws.

He had become very fat. He looked like a swollen sausage. One could see a leg at each corner of his huge body. His eyes were red and watery. He was looking in front of him. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth.

Mrs Pumphrey hastened to explain, “He was so listless, Mr Herriot. He seemed to have no energy.

Mrs. Pumphery is owner of Tricki. Mr. Herriot is a veterinary doctor. Mrs. Pumphery quickly explained to Mr Herriot that Tricky had become lazy. He does not have any energy.

I thought he must be suffering from malnutrition, so I have been giving him some little extras between meals to build him up, some malt and cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks at night to make him sleep — nothing much really.”

Mrs. Pumphery explains. She thought that Tricki was suffering because of unhealthy diet. So she had started feeding him something extra between his meals. She did this to make it stronger. She gave him some malt, cod-liver oil during day time. And a bowl of Horlicks in the night so that he could sleep well. She says that she did not feed him more

“And did you cut down on the sweet things as I told you?” “Oh, I did for a bit, but he seemed to be so weak I had to relent. He does love cream cakes and chocolates so. I can’t bear to refuse him.”

Mr. Herriot asked if she reduced feeding sweets to Tricki. She replied that she reduced for some time. But he was very weak so I again started giving him sweets. He likes ream cakes and chocolates. Hence I cannot tolerate to refuse him.

I looked down again at the little dog. That was the trouble. Tricki’s only fault was greed. He had never been known to refuse food; he would tackle a meal at any hour of the day or night.

I looked at the small dog again. Now I understood the problem. The fault of the Tricki was that he was very greedy. He had never refused to take food. He would eat any time of day or night.

And I wondered about all the things Mrs Pumphrey hadn’t mentioned. “Are you giving him plenty of exercise?”

I tried to imagine many things that Mrs. Pumphery had not told me. I asked her if she was exercising her dog a lot.

“Well, he has his little walks with me as you can see, but Hodgkin, the gardener, has been down with lumbago, so there has been no ring-throwing lately.”

She replied that the dog used to walk along with his mistress. Her gardener Hodgkin was suffering from back pain. So, the game of ring-throw has not been played these days.

I tried to sound severe: “Now I really mean this. If you don’t cut his food right down and give him more exercise he is going to be really ill. You must harden your heart and keep him on a very strict diet.”

Now I spoke with strictness. I am seriously telling you. If you do not immediately reduce his food and increase his exercises, he will certainly become ill. You must become less sympathetic to your dog. The dog must be on a strict diet.

Mrs Pumphrey wrung her hands. “Oh I will, Mr Herriot. I’m sure you are right, but it is so difficult, so very difficult.” She set off, head down, along the road, as if determined to put the new regime into practice immediately.

Mrs. Pumphery pressed her hands together and said she will surely do it. She said that Dr. Herriot was right but it was very difficult. (To feed less to Tricki). She started walking on the road. Her head was down. It looked she was determined to follow the new arrangement immediately.

I watched their progress with growing concern. Tricki was tottering along in his little tweed coat; he had a whole wardrobe of these coats — for the cold weather and a raincoat for the wet days.

With increasing worry I watched them walk. Tricki was walking with difficulty. He was wearing a tweed coat. His wardrobe was full of coats. Coats for cold weather and a raincoat for rainy days.

He struggled on, drooping in his harness. I thought it wouldn’t be long before I heard from Mrs Pumphrey.

Tricki walked with difficulty. He was bent in his strap. I was sure that very soon Mrs. Pumphery would give me a call.

The expected call came within a few days. Mrs Pumphrey was distraught. Tricki would eat nothing. Refused even his favourite dishes; and besides, he had bouts of vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug, panting. Didn’t want to go for walks, didn’t want to do anything.

Within few days Mrs. Humprey called me. She was very worried. Tricki was not eating anything. He refused to eat even his favourite dishes. In addition to it he had vomited. All the time he was lying on his blanket and breathing quickly. He did not want to walk. He did not want to do anything.

I had made my plans in advance. The only way was to get Tricki out of the house for a period. I suggested that he be hospitalised for about a fortnight to be kept under observation.

Word Meaning Fortnight=15 days

I had planned my answer in advance. I was sure that Tricki had to be taken out of that house. That was the only way to treat him. I suggested Mrs. Pumphery to hospitalize Tricki for about 15 days to keep him under observation.

The poor lady almost swooned. She was sure he would pine and die if he did not see her every day.

The lady almost fainted. She was sure that Tricki would surely miss her. He would die if he did not see her every day.

But I took a firm line. Tricki was very ill and this was the only way to save him; in fact, I thought it best to take him without delay and, followed by Mrs Pumphrey’s wailings, I marched out to the car carrying the little dog wrapped in a blanket.

But I was very strict this time. Tricki was very sick. In fact I thought that best way to save him would be to take him immediately. So I carried the little dog in my lap and got into my car. The dog was covered by a blanket. Mrs. Pumphery was weeping loudly.

The entire staff was roused and maids rushed in and out bringing his day bed, his night bed, favourite cushions, toys and rubber rings, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl, supper bowl.

The entire staff of Mrs Pumphery was called. All the maids were running in and out of the house. They brought his day bed, night bed, toys, rubber rings, and separate bowls for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Realising that my car would never hold all the stuff, I started to drive away. As I moved off, Mrs Pumphrey, with a despairing cry, threw an armful of the little coats through the window.

I understood that my car will not be able to carry all those things. So I started the car and began to move. Mrs. Pumphery started crying because her hope of giving all these things were not getting fulfilled. She threw some coats into the car through the window.

I looked in the mirror before I turned the corner of the drive; everybody was in tears. Out on the road, I glanced down at the pathetic little animal gasping on the seat by my side.

Before taking a turn on the road, I looked in the rear view mirror. Everybody was crying. When I reached the main road, I looked at the pitiful little dog who was puffing. He was sitting on the seat near me.

I patted the head and Tricki made a brave effort to wag his tail. “Poor old lad,” I said. “You haven’t a kick in you but I think I know a cure for you.”

I touched his head. Tricki made a great effort to wag its tail. (He was so tired that wagging of tail was a big job for him). I told Tricki that he was not active. But I have a remedy for you.

At the surgery, the household dogs surged round me. Tricki looked down at the noisy pack with dull eyes and, when put down, lay motionless on the carpet.

At the clinic, the dog living there moved around me. Dr. Herriot had come out of the car. He was holding Tricki in his lap. Tricki looked at the group of dogs that was making noise. Dr. Herriot put Tricki on the ground. He remained on the carpet without moving.

The other dogs, after sniffing round him for a few seconds, decided he was an uninteresting object and ignored him.

The other dogs smelled him for a few seconds. They decided that Tricki was an uninteresting object. So they neglected him. They moved away from him.

I made up a bed for him in a warm loose box next to the one where the other dogs slept. For two days I kept an eye on him, giving him no food but plenty of water.

Tricki was put in a warm big cage. The cage was placed near to a place where other dogs were sleeping. For two days Dr. Herriot kept him under observation. I did not give him any food. He was given only lot of water.

At the end of the second day he started to show some interest in his surroundings and on the third he began to whimper when he heard the dogs in the yard.

He showed some interest in things around him at the end of the second day. On the third day when he heard sound of other dogs he started making some weak sounds.

When I opened the door, Tricki trotted out and was immediately engulfed by Joe, the greyhound, and his friends. After rolling him over and thoroughly inspecting him, the dogs moved off down the garden. Tricki followed them, rolling slightly with his surplus fat.

Third day I opened the door of the cage. Tricki came out running slowly. Immediately another dog Joe and his friends stood around him. They pushed Tricki to ground. They inspected him and then all dogs started going to garden. Tricki was following them, walking very slowly because he was very fat.

Later that day, I was present at feeding time. I watched while Tristan slopped the food into the bowls.

Afterwards, on that day, I was present at the feeding time for the dogs. There were many bowls kept. Tristan poured food in each bowl.

There was the usual headlong rush followed by the sounds of high-speed eating; every dog knew that if he fell behind the others he was liable to have some competition for the last part of his meal.

As usual, every dog quickly ran towards these bowls, not caring for other dog. Then there was sound of eating quickly. Every dog was aware that if he ate slowly, his stomach will not get full. Every dog was competing with other dogs to get more share.

When they had finished, Tricki took a walk round the shining bowls, licking casually inside one or two of them.

After every dog had completed their eating, Tricki reached the bowls. He walked around bowls. These were shining because other dogs had eaten all the food. Tricki licked one or two empty bowls.

Next day, an extra bowl was put out for him and I was pleased to see him jostling his way towards it. Word Meaning

Jostling=Pushing and running-->

Next day there was an additional bowl for Tricki. I was happy to note that Tricki was also running and pushing with other dogs to reach his bowl.

From then on, his progress was rapid. He had no medicinal treatment of any kind but all day he ran about with the dogs, joining in their friendly scrimmages.

After that incident he improved quickly. He was not given any medicines. But for full day he ran with other dogs. He had joined in their friendly fights. (play)

He discovered the joys of being bowled over, tramped on and squashed every few minutes.

He found the happiness of being thrown to the ground, somebody walking on him or he was crushed between many dogs. These happened almost every minute. [He had started playing with other dogs. This was also a good exercise for him]

He became an accepted member of the gang, an unlikely, silky little object among the shaggy crew, fighting like a tiger for his share at mealtimes and hunting rats in the old henhouse at night. He had never had such a time in his life.

Other dogs had accepted him in their group. He looked a different silky little object while other dogs were rough looking dogs. He started fighting for his meal. He started hunting for rats in the henhouse during night. He had never enjoyed these things in his life time.

All the while, Mrs Pumphrey hovered anxiously in the background, ringing a dozen times a day for the latest bulletins.

During the same time, Mrs. Pumphery anxiously remained in the background [At her house]. She would give a call almost twelve times in a day for the latest information about Tricki.

I dodged the questions about whether his cushions were being turned regularly or his correct coat worn according to the weather; but I was able to tell her that the little fellow was out of danger and convalescing rapidly.

I avoided answering questions about cushion being changed regularly. Or if Tricki was wearing the correct coat as per weather. But I told her that the little dog was out of danger and his health was improving quickly.

The word ‘convalescing’ seemed to do something to Mrs Pumphrey. She started to bring round fresh eggs, two dozen at a time, to build up Tricki’s strength.

Mrs. Pumphery appeared to be affected by the words ‘improving his health’. She started bringing two dozen fresh eggs during her every visit. This was to increase strength of Tricki.

For a happy period my partners and I had two eggs each for breakfast, but when the bottles of wine began to arrive, the real possibilities of the situation began to dawn on the household.

For a long time, I and my parents used to eat two eggs for breakfast. [Eggs were not given to Tricki. His food was same as that for other dogs]. Then bottles of wine were sent by Mrs. Pumphery. Now people at our house (surgery) understood the real situation of Tricki.

It was to enrich Tricki’s blood. Lunch became a ceremonial occasion with two glasses of wine before and several during the meal.

The wine was to improve blood of Tricki. Now lunch for us became just like a ceremony. We started having two glasses of wine before food and many glasses during meal.

We could hardly believe it when the brandy came to put a final edge on Tricki’s constitution. For a few nights the fine spirit was rolled around, inhaled and reverently drunk.

We could not believe when Mrs Humphery sent brandy. It was to be added in food of Tricki. For some nights the fine drink was served repeatedly. We smelt it and drank with great respect.

They were days of deep content, starting well with the extra egg in the morning, improved and sustained by the midday wine and finishing luxuriously round the fire with the brandy.

Those days were days of great satisfaction. We started the day with extra eggs in the morning. The satisfaction was maintained and improved during lunch by enjoying wine. And in the dinner we had the luxury of having brandy.

It was a temptation to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest, but I knew Mrs Pumphrey was suffering and after a fortnight, felt compelled to phone and tell her that the little dog had recovered and was awaiting collection.

It became a strong desire to keep Tricki permanently at the surgery. But I knew that Mrs. Pumphery was suffering a lot because Tricki was not with her. So after a fortnight I was forced to call Mrs. Pumphery. I told her that the little dog had become healthy. She can come to take her dog.

Within minutes, about thirty feet of gleaming black metal drew up outside the surgery. The chauffeur opened the door and I could just make out the figure of Mrs Pumphrey almost lost in the interior.

Within few minutes, a long shining black car stopped outside the clinic. The driver opened the door of the car. I could make out that Mrs. Pumphery was sitting inside the car. She was busy in her thoughts.

Her hands were tightly clasped in front of her; her lips trembled. “Oh, Mr Herriot, do tell me the truth. Is he really better?”

She was tightly holding her hands together in front of her. Her lips shivered when she spoke. She requested me to tell her the truth. She wanted to know if the dog had really become better.

“Yes, he’s fine. There’s no need for you to get out of the car — I’ll go and fetch him.” I walked through the house into the garden.

I replied that he was fine. I requested her to remain in the car. I said that I will go and bring him. I walked into my house and then to the garden.

A mass of dogs was hurtling round and round the lawn and in their midst, ears flapping, tail waving, was the little golden figure of Tricki.

Word Meaning

A group of dogs was running in circular path in the garden. In that group there was a small golden colour dog Tricki. His ears were moving up and down and his tail was wagging.

In two weeks he had been transformed into a lithe, hard-muscled animal; he was keeping up well with the pack, stretching out in great bounds, his chest almost brushing the ground.

In two weeks he had become a thin, agile animal. His muscles had become hard. He was running well with the group. He was stretching himself to great extent. His chest was almost touching the ground.

I carried him back along the passage to the front of the house. The chauffeur was still holding the car door open and when Tricki saw his mistress he took off from my arms in a tremendous leap and sailed into Mrs Pumphrey’s lap.

I picked up Tricki in my lap and carried him through the passage to the front of the house. The driver had kept the door of the car still open. Tricki saw his mistress. He made a big jump from my arms. He moved into the lap of Mrs. Pumphery.

She gave a startled “Ooh!” And then had to defend herself as he swarmed over her, licking her face and barking.

With great surprise she spoke ‘Ooh!’ Tricki had jumped on her lap. She had to protect herself. He was licking her face and barking with affection and happiness.

During the excitement, I helped the chauffeur to bring out the beds, toys, cushions, coats and bowls, none of which had been used. As the car moved away, Mrs Pumphrey leaned out of the window.

During this happiness, I helped the driver to bring all the cloths and toys of Tricki. None of these were used in the clinic. The car started to move away. Mrs. Pumphery moved her head out of window.

Tears shone in her eyes. Her lips trembled. “Oh, Mr Herriot,” she cried, “how can I ever thank you? This is a triumph of surgery!”

Her eyes were full of tears. Her lips were shivering. She was so happy that it was not possible to express her thanks . She said ‘This is a triumph of surgery!’

JAMES HERRIOT

Text Book Questions

1. Why is Mrs. Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey is worried about Tricki, her pet dog, because he has stopped eating anything. He has become listless and seems to have no energy. He has bouts of vomiting. He spends all the time lying on rug, panting.

2. What does Mrs. Pumphrey do to help him? Is she wise in this?
Ans. She starts giving him some little extra diet between meals to build him up. She gives him some malt and cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks at night. She also give him cream cakes and chocolates. No, she is not wise in this.

3. Who does 'l' refer to in this story?
Ans. ‘l' in this story refers James Herriot, the narrator of this story. He is a veterinary surgeon.

4. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki's mistress?
Ans. No, the narrator is not as rich as Tricki's mistress.

5. How does Mr. Herriot treat the dog?
Ans. Mr Herriot knew that Tricki's only problem was overfeeding. The only cure was to put him on strict diet. He took him to his surgery. For two days, he gave him no food but plenty water to drink. He kept him on a very strict diet and gave him plenty of exercise.

6. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?
Ans. When Mrs. Pumphrey came to know that Tricki was recovering fast, she started sending delicious food for him. She used to send fresh eggs, bottles of wines to enrich Tricki’s blood and build up strength. All this food was enjoyed by Herriot and his partner. Lunch became a ceremonial occasion for them. Thus it became a temptation to keep Tricki as a permanent guest.

7. Why does Mrs. Pumphrey think the dogs recovery is ‘a triumph of surgery'?
Ans. Tricki looks very ill when he is taken to the surgery. But he looks full of life after two weeks. Mrs. Pumphrey finds a complete change in him. That is why she thinks the dog's recovery is ‘a triumph of surgery’.

8. What kind of a person do you think the narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is? Would you say he is tactful as well as full of common sense?
Ans. I think that the narrator is quite tactful and full of common sense. He knows that Mrs. Pumphrey won't stop over-feeding her dog. Therefore, he takes the dog to his surgery. He does not give him any medicine. He gives him food only when he is hungry. He also gave the dog enough exercise. In this way, he treats the dog without any medicine. All this shows that he is quite tactful and full of common sense.

Q. 9. Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?
Ans. I think that Tricki was quite happy to go home. As soon as he sees his mistress, he goes into her lap. Mrs. Pumphrey does not know the real cause of Tricki's illness. I think that Mrs. Pumphrey will again give Tricki a lot of food and make him ill.

10. Do you think this is a real-life episode or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?
Ans. I think that this story is quite close to real life. But it has some elements of fiction also. It may be possible that a rich lady pampers her dog, over-feeds him and make him ill. But it appears to be unusual that she sends so many eggs and bottles of wine and brandy to the surgery that the entire staff can feast on them. Therefore, we can say that this story is a mixture of both real-life episode and fiction.

Additional questions

11. This episode describes the silly behaviour of a rich woman who is foolishly indulgent, perhaps because she is lonely. Do you think such people are merely silly, or can their actions cause harm to others?
Ans. I think that persons like Mrs. Pumphrey are over-indulgent because she is lonely. She can be called silly also because she lacks in common sense. All know that overeating and no physical exercise can make even an elephant ill. Such people can cause harm to others as Mrs. Pumphrey does to Tricki.

12. Do you think there are also parents like Mrs. Pumphrey?
Ans. Yes, there are parents like Mrs. Pumphrey. They love their wards very much but later when things get out of their control they repent much. But losses can't be made up.

13. What would you have done if you were: (i) a member of the staff in Mrs. Pumphrey's household (ii) a neighbour? What would your life have been like, in general?
Ans. If I were in the staff of Mrs. Pumphrey, I could have politely advised her in the matter. The advice would be: cut down Tricki's food. give it light food, if it had a liking for it. If I had been her neighbour, I could have advised her more emphatically. Tricki was not ill. But it was the effect of rich food given to it. My life would have been all right. A man or a woman should have some practical common sense also.

14. What would you have done if you were in the narrator's place?
Ans. If I had been in the narrator's place, I would have done the same thing as he did. I would have used the same tactfulness and common sense as Mr. Herriot had used to treat Tricki.

15. What was Mr. Herriot's strict advice? Did Mrs. Pumphrey heed his advice?
Ans. Mr. Herriot was a vet. He advised Mrs. Pumphrey to keep the dog on very strict diet and to cut down on sweet things. He also advised her to give the dog plenty of exercise. No, Mrs. Pumphrey did not act upon the vet's advice and made Tricki’s condition worse.

15. What excuses did Mrs. Pumphrey make about Mr. Herriot's advice?
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey said that her gardener was ill. So there could be no ring throwing exercise for the dog. She also said her dog loved chocolates and cream cakes. So she couldn't refuse him these things.

16. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey make a frantic call to Mr. Herriot?
Ans. Mr. Herriot was a vet. Mrs. Pumphrey's dog had become very ill. He had stopped eating. He had bouts of vomiting. He kept lying on a rug. He kept panting all the time. That was why she made a frantic call to Mr. Herriot.

17. Describe the 'parting scene' between Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey.
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey started wailing. Her entire staff started running here and there. The maids rushed in and out to collect Tricki's beds, cushions and toys. Everybody was in tears when the car moved off with Tricki.

18. What evidence do you get from the text about Tricki's affluent living?
Ans. Tricki had a whole wardrobe of coats. He had different coats for different weather. He had a day bed and a night bed. He had a number of cushions, toys and rubber rings. He had a different bowl for each meal of the day.

19. Why was Tricki an uninteresting object for the other dogs at the surgery?
Or The household dogs at the surgery rejected Tricki as 'an uninteresting object'. Why?
Ans. Tricki was so ill that he could not move. He looked at the other dogs with dull eyes. He did not show any interest in his surroundings. He lay motionless on a carpet. The other dogs found him an uninteresting object. They ignored him and went away.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q. Write a brief summary of the lesson ‘A Triumph of Surgery’.
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich lady. She had a cute pet dog named Tricki. She pampered him very much. She loved him so much that she overfed him. She gave him food with rich fats. As a result Tricki became hugely fat. Now he looked like a bloated sausage. He became very lazy. When Mr. Herriot saw the fat dog, he was shocked. He made a plan and told Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki needed treatment for his ailment, which was possible only in the hospital. The doctor knew that Mrs. Pumphrey would not be able to keep the dog on a proper diet. When the greedy dog went to hospital, he was given no food but plenty of water for two days. Soon, he shed off a lot of his body weight and became quite active. When Tricki was at home, he was pampered by Mrs. Pumphrey. He led a luxurious life, where he was served with cream cake, chocolate and even Horlicks at night. But when he came to the doctor, he became all right. When Mrs. Pumphrey saw her active dog, she thanked the doctor and felt that it was ‘a triumph of surgery’.

Q. Write a character of Mrs. Pumphrey.
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich lady. She loved to live comfortably in a luxurious way. She pampered her dog Tricki very much. She was so fond of her dog that she had got for him a wardrobe of coats, separate beds for daytime and night time, and a number of lovely toys and cushions. She had also got for him a different bowl for each meal of the day. Thinking that he was suffering for malnutrition, she gave him food with rich fats. She gave him malt, cod-liver oil and even Horlicks at night. Tricki too was very greedy and he never refused food. All this made him hugely fat and lazy. Now she was much worried about him. She almost swooned when Herriot told her that Tricki must be hospitalized for a fortnight. She thought that Tricki would pine and die if he did not see his mistress even for a single day. She was very grateful to Herriot for his services to Tricki.

Q. Write a character-sketch of Tricki.
Ans. Tricki was a small dog. He was pampered and overfed by his mistress. He was given much nutritious food. He was greedy enough to refuse food any time. He liked eating cream cakes and chocolates. This made him hugely fat. He looked like a bloated sausage. He had bloodshot and rheumy eyes. He became dull, lazy and listless. He became seriously ill. He had bouts of vomiting. He was taken to Herriot's surgery. There he was given no food but plenty of water for two days. He was also given a lot of exercise to do. This made him quite fit and active. His mistress said about him that he would pine and die if he did not see her even for single day. This shows that he too loved his mistress very much.