A TRIUMPH OF SURGERY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James Alfred Wight (3 October 1916 – 23 February 1995), known by the pen
name James Herriot, was a British veterinary surgeon and writer, who used his
many years of experiences as a veterinary surgeon to write a series of books
each consisting of stories about animals and their owners. He is best known
for these semi-autobiographical works, beginning with If Only They Could Talk
in 1970, which spawned a series of movies and television series.

Main Characters
• Mrs Pumphrey
• Dr James Herriot, a veterinary surgeon
• Tricki, an obese dog

Value points
Excess of anything is bad
Indulgence of parents towards their children may be harmful
Excess of love and pampering can spoil anyone
Too much indulgence and lack of self-control is bad for both humans and animals

SUMMARY
The chapter, A Triumph of Surgery is about a pet dog, Tricki , that is spoilt by his mistress, Mrs Pumphrey.
She indulges her dog so much with food and other comforts that he has become overweight and cannot
even walk properly. Out of love, she would overfeed her pet. Gradually, Tricki gained oodles of weight
and became lazy. He hardly exercised or went out for a walk due to his bloated structure. Soon, she
consulted Mr James Herriot, a veterinary surgeon for treatment of her lethargic dog.
Mr Herriot was shocked to see Tricki’s condition and took him to the hospital as he knew Mrs Pumphrey’s
overindulgence would never help the ailing dog. At the surgery, Tricki was not given any food but plenty
of water for the first three days. From then on, he was fed like the other dogs. He also had sufficient
exercise as played with other bigger dogs in the hospital. Gradually, Tricki’s condition started improving.
Mrs Pumphrey still believed that her dog needed as much food as possible to recover completely and
started sending over food to nourish him and to help him build his strength. However, James Herriot and
his partners would eat the eggs daily for breakfast and also consume the wine and brandy that were
sent to help Tricki enrich his blood.. As soon, the little dog started showing signs of improvement, the vet
decided to inform Mrs Pumphrey though he was tempted to keep Tricki for longer, due to the regular
supply of food that was being sent by the rich lady.

When Mrs Pumphrey arrived in the hospital to fetch her pet, Tricki was very happy and jumped
on her with joy. Mrs Pumphrey was filled with gratitude towards Mr Herriot for curing her dog and
felt she could not thank him enough for the wonder he had done to her pet. She felt this was
indeed a triumph of surgery.

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 GLOSSARY

1. Mistress- a woman in a position of authority or control.

2. Bloated- excessive in size or amount.
3. Sausage- an item of food in the form of a cylindrical length of minced pork or other meat encased
in a skin, typically sold raw to be grilled or fried before eating.
4. Bloodshot- (of the eyes) inflamed or tinged with blood, typically as a result of tiredness.
5. Rheumy- watery.
6. Lolled- sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way.
7. Hastened- be quick to do something.
8. Listless- lacking energy or enthusiasm.
9. Malnutrition- lack of proper nutrition
10. Cod liver oil- oil pressed from the liver of cod
11. Relent- become less severe or intense.
12. Lumbago- pain in the muscles and joints of the lower back.
13. Severe- very great; intense.
14. Regime- a system or ordered way of doing things.
15. Tottering- move in a feeble or unsteady way.
16. Tweed- a rough-surfaced woolen cloth
17. Wardrobe- a large, tall cupboard or recess in which clothes may be hung or stored.
18. Harness- a set of straps and fittings
19. Distraught- very worried and upset.
20. Bouts- a short period of intense activity of a specified kind.
21. Rug- a floor covering
22. Panting- breathing with short, quick breaths; out of breath.
23. Fortnight- a period of two weeks.
24. Swooned- a partial or total loss of consciousness
25. Wailings- crying with pain, grief, or anger.
26. Marched- walk quickly and with determination.
27. Roused- cause to stop sleeping.
28. Maids- a female domestic servant.
29. Rushed- done or completed too hurriedly; hasty.
30. Supper- an evening meal, typically a light or informal one.
31. Despairing- showing loss of all hope.
32. Glanced- take a brief or hurried look.
33. Patted- touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand.
34. Wag- (especially with reference to an animal’s tail) move or cause to move rapidly to and fro.
35. Surged- move suddenly and powerfully forward or upward.
36. Motionless- not moving; stationary.
37. Sniffing- the action of drawing in air audibly through the nose.
38. Whimper- make a series of low, feeble sounds expressive of fear, pain, or unhappiness.
39. Trotted- run at a moderate pace with short steps.
40. Engulfed- sweep over (something) so as to surround or cover it completely.
41. Slopped- spill or flow over the edge of a container, typically as a result of careless handling.
42. Liable- likely to do or to be something.
43. Licking- pass the tongue over (something) in order to taste, moisten, or clean it.
44. Pleased- feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction,
45. Jostling- push, elbow, or bump against (someone) roughly, typically in a crowd.
46. Scrimmages- a confused struggle or fight.
47. Trampled- tread on and crush.
48. Squashed- flat, soft, or out of shape as a result of being crushed or squeezed with force.
49. Shaggy- long, thick, and unkempt.
50. Hovered- to move to and fro near a place .
51. Anxiously- feeling or showing worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain
outcome.
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52. Dozen- 12 in number
53. Bulletins- a short official statement or broadcast summary of news.
54. Convalescing- recover one’s health and strength over a period of time after an illness or medical
treatment.
55. Brandy- a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.
56. Constitution- the composition of something.
57. Reverently- with deep and solemn respect.
58. Temptation- the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.
59. Compelled- bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure.
60. Awaiting- wait for (an event).
61. Gleaming- reflecting light, typically because very clean or polished.
62. Chauffeur- a person employed to drive a private or hired car.
63. Clasped- grasp (something) tightly with one’s hand.
64. Trembled- shake involuntarily, typically as a result of anxiety, excitement, or frailty.
65. Fetch- go for and then bring back (someone or something) for someone.
66. Hurtling- move or cause to move at high speed, typically in an uncontrolled manner
67. Midst- in the middle of.
68. Lithe- thin, supple, and graceful.
69. Startled- feeling or showing sudden shock or alarm.
70. Swarmed- move somewhere in large numbers.
71. Shone- a quality of brightness produced

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?

Ans: Mrs Pumphrey is worried about Tricki because he is unwell. He has refused to eat food and
had bouts of vomiting. She feels that he is suffering from a serious health issue such as
malnutrition.

2. What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?

Ans: Mrs Pumphrey starts giving him extra snacks like malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks, apart from
his main meals, to improve his condition. She also continues to satisfy his sweet tooth with cream
cakes and chocolates. She does not give him any exercise, considering his listlessness as well. She
is not wise in doing so because overfeeding Tricki is worsening his conditions instead of improving
it. It has made him very fat and lazy.

3. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?

Ans: ‘I’ refers to the narrator, Mr James Herriot, a veterinary doctor

4. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?

Ans: No, the narrator is not as rich as Tricki’s mistress, Mrs Pumphery. We can say so because the
narrator seems fascinated by how lavishly Mrs Pumphrey spends on the well-being and
maintenance of her pet. He is unusually surprised by the enriching items she sends for Tricki, as he
cannot afford them for himself.

5. How does he treat the dog?

Ans: James Herriot treats Tricki just like he would treat an overweight and lazy dog, which Tricki is.
He cuts down his food intake and keeps him under strict observation for the initial days at hospital.
He gradually increases Tricki’s food and sets him free for physical activities to improve his health.

6. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?

Ans: Mr Herriot is tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest because of the good food and
wine he is enjoying in Tricki’s name. He does not want to lose the luxurious inflow of fresh eggs,
wine and brandy.

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7. Why does Mrs Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is ‘a triumph of surgery’?
Ans: Mrs Pumphrey thinks that Tricki’s recovery is a triumph of surgery because his illness was very
serious. She was of the opinion that there were very few chances of Tricki to improve and he
needed immediate medical attention. Thus, his revival without any medicinal treatment was a great
achievement, according to her.

8. What made James Herriot expect a call from Mrs. Pumphrey?

Ans: When Dr. James Herriot saw an extremely fat Tricki with Mrs. Pumphrey, he was sure that
Tricki's over-diet and no physical exercise are would lead to his bad health. Hence he expected a
call from Mrs. Pumphrey.

9. 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: The narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is a capable and wise doctor. He handles Tricki properly
which shows that he is sincere about his profession.
He does not operate upon the dog unnecessarily and cures him by altering his diet and activities.
He is a tactful person as he knew exactly how to convince Mrs Pumphrey to hospitalise Tricki in
order to keep him under strict observation. He was wise enough to understand Tricki's real problem
i.e. greed. By controlling his diet and keeping him in the company of other dogs, he was able to
restore his health. His decision to inform Mrs Pumphrey to collect Tricki inspite of being tempted to
keep Tricki as a permanent guest, shows that he is a sensible person.

10. Do you think Trick was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?
Ans: Tricki was certainly happy to go back home as he really loved his mistress and the comfort of
his lavish life. He didn't have any friends at home like in the hospital, but he seemed equally excited
at the sight of Mrs Pumphrey. When he saw his mistress, he leaped out of Mr. Herriot's arms and
sailed into her lap. I think that the whole episode was an eye opener for Mrs Pumphrey. She will
now be careful about Tricki's diet and health. She may also give him exercise daily as prescribed by
the vet earlier.

11. Do you think this is a real-life episode, or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?
Ans: James Herriot, the author of A Triumph of Surgery', is not just a short story writer, he is also a
veterinary doctor by profession. Most of his stories are inspired by his experiences as a doctor. It
may be possible for rich persons to overfeed their pets due to love. It is not unusual for them to
maintain a vast wardrobe for them either. But it is unlikely for a veterinary doctor to go out of the
way and lie in order to save an animal. It is also unusual for anyone to consume food which is given
in the name of a pet's health. Hence, the story is likely to only partly fictional.

12. Do you think Tricki was enjoying his stay at the hospital?
Ans: Yes, Tricki was definitely enjoying his stay at the hospital. He had befriended the gang of hairy
household dogs. He had found a new joy in being bowled over (pushed), trampled on and
squashed. He had also become very energetic. He used to play and run all day long with the dogs.
He was having a great time.

13. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey make a frantic call to Mr. Herriot?
Ans: Mrs Pumphrey had a dog named Tricky. She overfed him out of love and concern. He
was not given any physical exercise. So, the dog fell ill and started vomiting also. It made Mrs.
Pumphrey so much worried that she had to call the veterinary surgeon, Dr. Harriot for his treatment.

14. Why did Mrs Pumphrey take Tricki to the doctor?

Ans: Tricki was not eating anything for the post few days. He had refused even dishes and had
bouts of vomiting moreover, he was spending his time lying on a rug, panting All these symptoms
forced Mrs Pumphrey to visit the doctor.

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15. Why was the doctor worried about Tricki?
Ans: Dr Herriot was worried about Tricki's health. When he saw the dog with his mistress, Mrs
Pumphrey, he was shocked at his appearance. The dog had become hugely fat. His eyes were red
and his tongue was hanging out. Such a miserable condition of the dog really worried the surgeon.

16. "Tricki's only fault was greed", says the narrator. What might be Mrs. Pumphrey's "only fault"?
Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey's "only fault" was her overindulgence. She overfed Tricki due to her extreme
pampering and concern for him.

17. Do you think there are also parents like Mrs Pumphrey?
Ans: Yes, there are some parents like Mrs Pumphrey who spoil their children by pampering them.
They overfeed their children/pets despite being aware of the harmful effects on their health. Parents
like Mrs Pumphrey should maintain a healthy lifestyle of their family and pets.

18. 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:
(i) If I were a member of the staff in her household I would have not followed Mrs Pumphrey’s
command to feed Tricki blindly. In fact, I would have fed him according to the vet’s advice. I
would have also skipped sending the unnecessary stuff like toys, cushions etc to the
hospital. My life would have been a very busy one, as I would have had to take care of the
household chores and meet Tricki’s demands on time.
(ii) If I were Mrs Pumphrey’s neighbour, I would have advised her to consult a vet and follow his
advice strictly keeping in mind Tricki’s deteriorating health. I would have also been
supportive in their hard time when Tricki was hospitalised. My life as Mrs Pumphrey’s
neighbour would have been full of surprises and gifts as Mrs Pumphrey was a loving lady.

19. What would you have done if you were in the narrator’s place?
Ans: If I were in the narrator’s place, I would have treated Tricki with a similar amount of
compassion and love. I would have been equally caring as Mr James Herriot towards Tricki. I would
have just been a little more stern while advising Mrs Pumphrey to put Tricki on a strict diet knowing
her way of showing love. I would have also not consumed Tricki’s share of eggs, wine and brandy
sent by Mrs Pumphrey.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. "It is health that is real wealth not pieces of gold and silver.
Justify the quote given above in light of Tricki's sickness and his recovery to be fit.
Ans: Mahatma Gandhi aptly said that the real wealth of a person lies in his health. Money can buy
things of comfort and luxury but not health. A person may have a lot of money but still can't enjoy a
single penny due to his ill health.
In the story 'Triumph of a Surgery', Tricki was the pet dog of an extremely rich lady named Mrs.
Pumphrey. She provided Tricki with so much comfort and pleasure that she made Tricki unhealthy
by feeding him rich food that isn’t meant to be consumed by dogs. Even though Tricki had every
facility as a pampered baby but he was unable to enjoy a dog's life. He couldn't run or jump like a
normal dog because of his weight and ill health. His happy life was ruined by extreme pampering
and over-feeding by his owner, Mrs. Pumphrey.

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2. Doctors must have presence of mind and be kind to his patients. What treatment was given to
Tricky by Dr. Herriot?
Ans: Dr James Herriot was a capable veterinary surgeon who treated Tricki. He was a
compassionate doctor and a wise and sympathetic human being. He showed his capabilities
almost immediately when he advised Mrs Pumphrey to put Tricki on a strict diet after
understanding his symptoms. Dr Herriot was also an understanding and tactful person as he knew
exactly how to free Tricki from the spoiling love of Mrs Pumphrey. He does not operate upon the
dog unnecessarily and adopted a practical approach to treating him. His method worked and soon
Tricki was transformed into an energetic dog. Mr James was a caring and polite individual as he
successfully tackles Mrs Pumphrey's anxiety about Tricki's recovery patiently. Dr. Herriot was not
only a sincere doctor but was also a good-natured man. He knew that the things sent by Mrs
Pumphrey could not be given to Tricki.

3. Excess of everything is bad. Comment in the wake of Mrs Pumphrey's love for Tricki.
Ans: Mrs Pumphrey was a rich woman who loved her dog very much. She loved to live a
comfortable and lavish life and also wanted to give her dog a similar life. She had maintained a
wardrobe full of fancy fur coats, dresses, beds etc for Tricki. Apart from this, she used to overfeed
Tricki out of her love and concern. She used to serve him cod-liver oil and malt between the main
meals and Horlicks after dinner to give him strength. She never realised that Tricki was a dog and
this would spoil his health. She could not even refuse to answer Tricki when he'd drool for cream
cakes and chocolates. Her overfeeding worsened Tricki's condition. This made the dog lazy, inactive
and obese. He used to lie on his rug and pant all day long. Mrs Pumphrey fed him excessively,
spoiling Tricki's health to such an extent that he had to be hospitalised. Even in the hospital she
continued to send Tricki her love through eggs, wine and brandy. Her fondness and care for Tricki
proved that excess of everything is not good because it made Tricki sick.

4. Distinguish between Mrs Pumphrey's method and Mr. Herriot's method in looking after the dog.
Whose method could be regarded the better of the two and why?
OR
There were some differences in Mrs. Pumphrey and Dr. Herriot's notions of responsibility and
experiences of keeping a pet. As a reporter for the local pet magazine, write an article recording
and comparing their perspectives. Don't forget to give it an interesting title.
Ans:
The Guide to Keep a Pet
Keeping a pet is a wonderful experience. Not only it's a soothing possession but also a huge
responsibility. One should take care of her/his pet as a child. Owners should observe and
understand all the little details of their par pets such as their likes and dislikes, eating habits,
cravings, comfort, favourite food, sleeping habits, etc. Owners should fulfil all their demands and
give them everything their pets desire. However, one must not forget that everything is good only if
it is under the limit. In the case of pets too, the owners should understand when to stop fulfilling
their pet's demands and pampering. An owner's biggest responsibility is their pet's life. So, they
should make sure that they don't overindulge or over-pamper their pet as it may cause trouble to
the pet's life, or even cost its life. Hence, pet-keeping is a job that should be done with utmost
sincerity.

5. Herriot seems to be a duty-bound doctor who values other's emotions than his personal
interests. Elucidate the above statement.
Ans: Mr Herriot was a capable veterinary surgeon who treated Tricki. He was a very compassionate
doctor and a wise and sympathetic human being. He showed his capabilities almost immediately
when he advised Mrs Pumphrey to put Tricki on a strict diet after understanding his symptoms. He
can also be said to be an understanding and tactful person as he knew exactly how to free Tricki
from the indulging love of Mrs Pumphrey. He does not operate upon the poor dog unnecessarily and
adopts a practical approach to treat him. Mr James was a caring and polite individual as he
successfully calms Mrs Pumphrey's anxiety about Tricki's recovery patiently. He was in all a good
human being and a successful professional.
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6. Herriot enjoyed the lavish (costly) meal during Tricki’s stay but still, he felt compelled (forced to
do something) to inform Mrs. Pumphrey about the recovery of Tricki. Why did he not keep Tricki
for a longer time? Did he feel concerned for Mrs. Pumphrey? Was it not in his attitude to break
the trust of others. Discuss the values he possessed in 100-120 words.
Ans: Tricki was a fat dog, the pet of Mrs. Pumphrey. He became listless and seemed to have no
energy and fell ill. So, Mrs. Pumphrey called the veterinary surgeon, Dr. Herriot for help. Dr. Herriot
took Tricki to his surgery. He kept an eye on him for two days and gave him no food but plenty of
water. At the end of the second day, he started showing some interest in his surroundings and on
the third day, began to whimper (cry) on the sound of dogs.
During his stay at the surgery, Mrs. Pumphrey started to bring round fresh eggs to a dozen at a
time. She also sent bottles of wine and brandy for Tricki’s health. But that was consumed by
Mr. Herriot and his partners. Hence, Herriot enjoyed the stay of Tricki. He did not want to keep Tricki
for a longer time because he felt concerned for Mrs. Pumphrey. He did not want to separate the pet
from his owner. He could understand Mrs. Pumphrey’s concern for the little dog. So he returned him
back.

7. “He had never been known to refuse food; he would tackle a meal at any hour of the day or
night.” Herriot believed that Tricki’s problem was his greed. Did he lack tolerance? What values
would you like Tricky to imbibe? Elucidate.
Ans: Dr. Herriot was not entirely wrong in believing that Tricki’s problem was greed. Tricki was
indeed greedy, but Mrs. Pumphrey only made matters worse by stuffing him with rich food. Herriot
did not lack intolerance; he was just stating the obvious. Tricki’s ill-health made him concerned, and
he made the observation as a veterinary doctor. Tricki, on the other hand, needed to exercise
control on his eating habits. It would have been good if he did not greedily gobble up everything
that was placed in front of him. Mrs. Pumphrey herself reveals that Tricki loved cream cakes and
chocolates very much. Thus, Tricki ought to have been less gluttonous (excessively greedy) and
luxury-loving, and behaved more like a dog!

8. Mrs. Pumphrey says, “This is ‘A Triumph of Surgery’. Why did she say so? Did she know what ‘,
Ticki’s ailment was?
Ans: Tricki was seriously ill. He refused food. He had bouts of vomiting. Mrs. Pumphrey was very
much worried about him. She called Dr. Herriot who was a vet surgeon. Dr. Herriot knew about
Tricki’s disease. He took the dog to his surgery. He gave Tricki no food for two days. He gave him a
lot of exercises. When Mrs. Pumphrey went to Dr. Herriot’s surgery to take Tricki back she found
him totally transformed. He had been very lazy and flabby. But now he had been transformed into a
lithe and hard-muscled animal. All this made him say, “This is ‘A Triumph of Surgery’. No, Mrs.
Pumphrey did not know about Tricki’s ailment. She also did not know how he was cured.

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9. Dr James Herriot was a competent veterinary surgeon. His practical approach and common
sense helped in the rapid recovery of Tricki. Comment.
OR
Give a character sketch of Dr James Herriot.
Ans: Dr James Herriot, no doubt, was a competent veterinary surgeon. He was really worried about
Tricki. He understood that the real fault of the dog was his greed for food. He never refused food.
The dog had become hugely fat and listless. Dr Herriot instructed Mrs Pumphrey to keep Tricki on a
very strict diet. He also asked her to give him a lot of exercises. Dr Herriot also suggested cuttting
down sweets to him. He advised her that Tricki must be hospitalised for a fortnight under his
observation.
Dr James Herriot was practical and pragmatic (sensible). He didn’t give any medical treatment to
the dog. The dog was not given any food but lots of water. His method worked. Tricki’s recovery
was surprisingly rapid. Tricki was transformed into a flexible and hard-muscled dog. He was not
only out of danger but was soon handed over to his mistress. The grateful mistress thanked Dr.
Herriot and called his feat (achievement)”A Triumph of Surgery”.
Dr. James Herriot was clever enough to enjoy the best of both worlds. He was tempted to keep
Tricki on as a permanent guest. It was a happy period for Dr. Herriot and his friends. He enjoyed
eggs for breakfast, and wine and brandy for lunch.

10. Describe Tricki’s stay at Dr. James Herriot’s surgery, highlighting his behaviour and his rapid
recovery.
Ans: Dr. Herriot found out quite early what was the real problem with Tricki. He knew that Tricki’s
only weakness was his greed for food. He, therefore, wanted Mrs. Pumphrey to keep Tricki on a
strict diet and give him plenty of exercises. Dr Herriot instructed her that the dog be hospitalised
under his observation for a fortnight. At the surgery, Tricki looked down at the noisy dogs with dull
eyes. He lay motionless on the carpet. The other dogs ignored him as an uninteresting object. A bed
was made in a warm loose box next to the other dogs. For two days, Dr. Herriot kept an eye on him.
He gave him no food but plenty of water. He gave no medical treatment to Tricki.
Dr. Herriot’s practical treatment worked. First, Tricki started taking an interest in his surroundings.
His appetite returned. He started running along with the other dogs in the garden joining in their
friendly barkings. Then, Tricki’s stay at the surgery became quite enjoyable. His indulgent mistress
gave him fresh eggs, wine and brandy. Even Dr. Herriot was tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent
guest. However, Tricki’s recovery was quite rapid and he was handed over to his mistress. The
grateful Mrs. Pumphrey thanked Dr. Herriot and called his feat “A Triumph of Surgery”.

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 SELF ASSESSMENT (HOMEWORK)

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Mrs Pumphrey call the doctor?

2. What was the main cause of Tricki’s ill-health?
3. How did Mrs Pumphrey deal with Tricki’s absence?
4. How was Tricki different from the other dogs in the surgery?
5. What was Tricki doing in the name of exercise?

Long Answer Questions

1. Tricki was more a member of Mrs Pumphrey’s family than a mere dog. Explain, giving example from
the text.
2. Mrs Pumphrey says, “This is a triumph of surgery”. Why did she say so? Did she know what Tricki’s
ailment was?
3. Compare and contrast Tricki in the beginning and in the end of the story ‘A Triumph of Surgery’.