A Triumph of Surgery - Q&A
Read and Find Out (Page 1)
1. Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
Mrs Pumphrey is worried about Tricki because he has become listless and seems to have no energy. She thinks he is suffering from malnutrition. Furthermore, he refuses to eat his favourite dishes and has bouts of vomiting.
2. What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?
To help him, she starts giving him little extras between meals to build him up, such as malt, cod-liver oil, and a bowl of Horlicks at night. She also gives him cream cakes and chocolates.
No, she is not wise in this. Her actions are actually worsening Tricki's condition because his main problem is greed and overeating, not malnutrition.
3. Who does 'I' refer to in this story?
'I' refers to the narrator of the story, James Herriot, who is a veterinary surgeon.
Read and Find Out (Page 3)
1. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki's mistress?
No, the narrator does not seem to be as rich as Tricki's mistress, Mrs Pumphrey. This is evident from the luxurious lifestyle Tricki leads—having a whole wardrobe of tweed coats, separate beds, and silver bowls for different meals—which the narrator observes with amazement.
2. How does he treat the dog?
He treats the dog by cutting down his food intake strictly and giving him no medicine. Instead, he puts Tricki on a strict diet with plenty of water for the first two days. Gradually, he increases the dog's physical exercise by letting him play and run with the other dogs in the surgery.
3. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?
He is tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest because Mrs Pumphrey starts sending fresh eggs, wine, and brandy to build up Tricki's strength. The narrator and his partners enjoy these luxuries at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which they would lose if Tricki were sent back.
4. Why does Mrs Pumphrey think the dog's recovery is "a triumph of surgery"?
Mrs Pumphrey thinks the dog's recovery is "a triumph of surgery" because Tricki had been very ill and listless, and within a fortnight, he was transformed into a hard-muscled, active animal. She believes this miraculous recovery was due to some medical surgery or treatment performed by Mr Herriot, unaware that it was simply diet and exercise.
Think about it (Page 6)
1. 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?
The narrator is a kind, capable, and practical veterinary surgeon. He is genuinely concerned about the animals he treats.
Yes, he is very tactful and full of common sense. He tactfully handles the over-caring Mrs Pumphrey by telling her the dog needs to be hospitalized, knowing she wouldn't cut down his food at home. His common sense is shown in his treatment method—he uses no medicine, just natural diet control and exercise to cure the dog's obesity.
2. Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?
Yes, Tricki was extremely happy to go home. He leaped onto Mrs Pumphrey's lap and licked her face with joy.
However, now that he is back home, there is a high chance that Mrs Pumphrey will go back to spoiling him with excessive food and lack of exercise. Unless she strictly follows the vet's advice, Tricki might become overweight and ill again.
3. Do you think this is a real-life episode, or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?
This story seems to be a mixture of both real-life experience and fiction. James Herriot was a real veterinary surgeon, and the medical advice given is practical and realistic. However, the descriptions of the lavish items provided for the dog (like wine and brandy) and the specific characters might be exaggerated for humour and storytelling purposes.
Talk about it (Page 7)
1. 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?
While such behavior might seem merely silly or amusing at first, it can indeed cause harm. In this story, Mrs Pumphrey's foolish indulgence nearly killed her beloved dog by causing him severe obesity and health issues. Similarly, in real life, excessive indulgence without discipline can harm the health and character of those being pampered, whether they are pets or children.
2. Do you think there are also parents like Mrs Pumphrey?
Yes, there are definitely parents like Mrs Pumphrey. They may spoil their children by giving them everything they ask for, feeding them unhealthy food, or protecting them from any physical activity or hardship. This "over-love" can lead to health problems like obesity in children or behavioral issues like stubbornness and a lack of independence.
3. 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?
(i) As a member of the staff: My life would have been very busy but likely comfortable. I would have spent a lot of time cleaning Tricki's bowls, washing his coats, and carrying his cushions. I might have felt annoyed by the fuss but also enjoyed the leftover rich food.
(ii) As a neighbour: I would probably be amused by the spectacle but also critical of how the dog was being treated. I might have tried to advise Mrs Pumphrey to let the dog run around more, though she likely wouldn't have listened.
4. What would you have done if you were in the narrator's place?
If I were in the narrator's place, I would have done exactly what he did. As a doctor, the priority is the patient's health. I would have removed Tricki from the harmful environment (Mrs Pumphrey's home) to ensure he was put on a strict diet and exercise regime, as that was the only way to save his life.