A Triumph of Surgery

A Triumph of Surgery

Introduction:

‘A Triumph of Surgery’ is the story of a woman who loved her pet dog so much that she nearly killed it by overfeeding. A doctor, who knew where the problem lay, takes the nearly dead dog to his clinic for surgery and the dog recovers amazingly after the ‘surgery!’ What surgery did the doctor do? Did he really do any surgery at all?

About the author:

James Herriot, also known as Alf Wight, was an English veterinary surgeon and writer. He is best known for his semi-autobiographical stories. In 1969, James Herriot wrote ‘If Only They Could Talk’. It was the first of the famous series based on his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. His books are often described as animal stories, obviously because they are about the life of a country veterinarian.

Summary

This story is about Tricki, a small dog who is over-pampered by his mistress Mrs Pumphrey. She overfed him to the extent that made Tricki look like a bloated sausage. She gave him food, rich in fats. She gave him cream cakes and biscuits, cod-liver oil and Horlicks and even wine. This made Tricki, greedy, fat and lazy. He became uninterested in things. He kept lying all day on the carpet. Moreover, he had some bouts of vomiting. So, Mrs. Pumphrey thought that he was seriously ill. She called Mr James Herriot who was a vet surgeon.

Mr Herriot knew that Tricki was suffering because of overeating. He had already made his plans. He said that Tricki must be admitted in the hospital for a fortnight. This suggestion made Mrs Pumphrey very sad. She thought that Tricki could not live even a single day without seeing his mistress. But Mr Herriot wrapped him in a blanket, took him out of the house and put him in his car.

When Herriot reached his home, the household dogs surrounded him. They sniffed Tricki and showed no interest in him. Till two days Herriot did not give him anything to eat. But, he gave him a lot of water to drink. Then the doctor started giving him some light food. He gave him no medicine. After two days Tricki had started taking interest in his surroundings.

He started mixing up with other dogs. He became a member of the gang. At home, he had almost no exercise but at the surgery, he had a lot of exercises and fun. The controlled diet and activities made him active. But, Mrs Pumphrey remained anxious about Tricki’s health. Every time she called, the doctor told her that Tricki was getting better. This made her think that he had gone through some surgery. So daily, she sent two dozen fresh eggs, wine, and brandy for him so that he might recover soon. But the doctor did not give those to Tricki because he really did not need this type of diet. The doctor and his partners enjoyed the eggs, wine, and brandy themselves. After a fortnight Mrs Pumphrey came to collect Tricki. When the doctor brought Tricki out, he immediately jumped into Mrs Pumphrey’s arms. She was surprised to see this. She said that it was a ‘Victory of Surgery.’

Word meanings:

Mistress– a woman in a position of authority or control.
Bloated- excessive in size or amount.
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.
Bloodshot- (of the eyes) inflamed or tinged with blood, typically as a result of tiredness.
Rheumy– watery.
Lolled- sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way.
Hastened- be quick to do something.
Listless- lacking energy or enthusiasm.
Malnutrition- lack of proper nutrition
Cod liver oil- oil pressed from the liver of cod
Relent– become less severe or intense.
Lumbago– pain in the muscles and joints of the lower back.
Severe-  very great; intense.
Regime- a system or ordered way of doing things.
Tottering- move in a feeble or unsteady way.
Tweed- a rough-surfaced woolen cloth
Wardrobe- a large, tall cupboard or recess in which clothes may be hung or stored.
Harness- a set of straps and fittings
Distraught- very worried and upset.
Bouts- a short period of intense activity of a specified kind.
Rug– a floor covering
Panting- breathing with short, quick breaths; out of breath.
Fortnight- a period of two weeks.
Swooned- a partial or total loss of consciousness
Wailings- crying with pain, grief, or anger.
Marched-  walk quickly and with determination.
Roused- cause to stop sleeping.
Maids- a female domestic servant.
Rushed- done or completed too hurriedly; hasty.
Supper- an evening meal, typically a light or informal one.
Despairing- showing loss of all hope.
Glanced- take a brief or hurried look.
Patted- touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand.
Wag- (especially with reference to an animal's tail) move or cause to move rapidly to and fro.
Surged- move suddenly and powerfully forward or upward.
Motionless- not moving; stationary.
Sniffing- the action of drawing in air audibly through the nose.
Whimper- make a series of low, feeble sounds expressive of fear, pain, or unhappiness.
Trotted- run at a moderate pace with short steps.
Engulfed- sweep over (something) so as to surround or cover it completely.
Slopped- spill or flow over the edge of a container, typically as a result of careless handling.
Liable-  likely to do or to be something.
Licking- pass the tongue over (something) in order to taste, moisten, or clean it.
Pleased- feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction,
Jostling- push, elbow, or bump against (someone) roughly, typically in a crowd.
Scrimmages- a confused struggle or fight.
Trampled- tread on and crush.
Squashed- flat, soft, or out of shape as a result of being crushed or squeezed with force.
Shaggy- long, thick, and unkempt.
Hovered- to move to and fro near a place.
Anxiously-  feeling or showing worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
Dozen- 12 in number
Bulletins- a short official statement or broadcast summary of news.
Convalescing- recover one's health and strength over a period of time after an illness or medical treatment.
Brandy- a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.
Constitution- the composition of something.
Reverently- with deep and solemn respect.
Temptation- the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.
Compelled- bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure.
Awaiting- wait for (an event).
Gleaming- reflecting light, typically because very clean or polished.
Chauffeur- a person employed to drive a private or hired car.
Clasped-  grasp (something) tightly with one's hand.
Trembled- shake involuntarily, typically as a result of anxiety, excitement, or frailty.
Fetch- go for and then bring back (someone or something) for someone.
Hurtling- move or cause to move at high speed, typically in an uncontrolled manner
Midst- in the middle of.
Lithe-  thin, supple, and graceful.
Startled- feeling or showing sudden shock or alarm.
Swarmed- move somewhere in large numbers.
Shone- a quality of brightness produced

Character Sketches:

Mrs. Pumphrey:

Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich lady, who had a small, dog named Tricki as a pet. Though she loved her pet dearly, she was being foolishly indulgent. She would pamper the dog by giving him chocolates, cakes, juice, eggs and wine. But, little did she know that the dog needed exercise too. And obviously, when Tricki fell sick due to all the overeating and lack of exercise, she became anxious and sad. Though, Mrs. Pumphrey was silly, she was tender-hearted. She cried bitterly when Tricki was taken to the hospital. She packed all of Tricki’s belongings to be taken to the hospital. She even sent eggs, wine and brandy to the hospital thinking that all of those would help Tricki recover from the surgery. She was happy and grateful to Dr. Harriot for making Tricki healthy. She went to the extent of calling it a Triumph of Surgery . So we can say that Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich, foolishly indulgent, ignorant, anxious, silly, tenderhearted, and a grateful person. 

Tricki, the dog:

Tricki was well aware of the fact that his mistress loves him dearly. But, sadly enough he gives in to the greed developed due to all the food given to him. Thus he becomes sick. At the hospital, he is well taken care of by Dr. Herriot and his staff. There, Tricki gels with all the other dogs. With a proper diet and a lot of exercise, he once again becomes fit and fine. At the end when Mrs. Pumphrey comes to collect him, he leaps from the arms of Dr. Herriot into his mistress’ lap. Thus, we see that Tricki is a lovable and faithful dog.

 Dr. Herriot:

Dr. Herriot was a duty-bound veterinary doctor. He used to visit Mrs Pumphrey’s house for the regular check-ups of her dog, Tricki. Dr Herriot was quite worried about the dog’s health as he knew that the dog was over-fed by his owner. He advised Mrs Pumphrey to keep him off the rich diet and give him a lot of exercise. But she didn’t bother. Hence, in order to improve Trick’s health, he decided to take him away from Mrs Pumphrey. He told her that the dog needed surgery. He made a Tricky cut down his diet and made him do certain exercises which improved his health. Although he knew Mrs Pumphrey was very rich and much attached to the dog, he did not take any advantage of it. He just performed his duties and eventually returned the dog to its rightful owner.  

The theme of the story:

The story ‘A Triumph of Surgery’ has much significance in our life as well. Not only adults but also children tend to put on weight and grow ill due to their parents’ over-protective nature. Many children become overweight and spoilt just because the parents try to meet every demand and fail to give them proper exercise for their body and mind. The story focuses on people who have disposable money with no avenues to spend. They probably don’t inculcate a pastime or a hobby. Obviously, they easily get bored and hence indulge in silly behaviours. These actions do more harm than good to the objective of affection. Loving and being affectionate towards a child or a pet is not wrong. But, not to the extent that they lose out on their basic understanding between the good and the bad. And, as far as pets are concerned, they are not objects to be shown around. They are real living creatures. As much as they need love and affection, they need a proper diet and a healthy lifestyle to survive well.

Read and Find Out (Answers to the questions given on Page 1)

1. Why is Mrs. Pumphrey worried about Tricki?

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?

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 condition instead of improving it. It has made him very fat and lazy.

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

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

Read and Find Out (Answers to the questions given on Page 3)

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

No, the narrator is not as rich as Tricki’s mistress, Mrs Pumphrey. 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?

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 the 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?

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.

7. Why does Mrs. Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is ‘a triumph of surgery’?

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

A Letter to God

About the author:

Gregorio López Fuentes (1895-1966) was one of the most important chroniclers of the Mexican Revolution and its effects. His famous works are Campamento (1931; “Encampment”), Tierra (1932; “Earth”), Mi general! (1934; “My General!”), and El Indio (1935; “The Indian”).

Summary

The main character of the story is Lencho, a dedicated farmer. He was expecting a decent harvest. But unfortunately, an untimely hailstorm destroyed his harvest totally. Lencho was very sad although he had a very strong faith in God. He was sure that God would definitely help him out of this adverse situation. He was an extremely simple and straightforward man. He composed a letter to God, in which he asks God to send him one hundred pesos. He then went to the post office and put the letter into the post box,

A postman collected the letter from the letterbox. Obviously, he was amused by reading the address on the envelop. He rushed to the postmaster and showed him the strange letter. The postmaster also chuckled in the same way when he saw the address of God. However, he didn’t want to shake the farmer’s faith in God. So, he read the letter. He decided to help him. As he could not spare 100 Pesos, he asked the employees of the post office to contribute to a good cause. He himself gave a part of his salary for the cause. But he was able to collect only a little more than half the money requested by Lencho. The postmaster put the money in an envelope and addressed it to Lechno. 

The following Sunday, Lencho visited the post office again to find out if there was any letter for him. The postman took out the letter and gave it to Lencho. Lencho was not at all surprised at seeing the money. But when he counted the money, he became angry. He thought that God could not have made the mistake. He took paper and ink and wrote another letter to God and put it into the letterbox.

After Lencho had gone, the contents of the letter were read. In this letter, Lencho had complained to God that he had received only seventy Pesos. This time he requested God to send him the rest of the money also. But he asked God not to send the money through the mail. He thought that the post-office employees were a bunch of crooks and that they had stolen the rest of the money.

Meanings of words and phrases

• crest - the top of a mountain or hill
• dotted - a place having objects scattered or placed in a random manner
• downpour - heavy rain
• intimately - in a way that involves detailed knowledge
• supper - a light informal evening meal
• predict - say or estimate that an event or action will happen in the future
• cent - a monetary unit in various countries
• draped - to be covered
• regarded - to consider or think of in a specified way
• hailstones - small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky like rain
• resemble - look alike
• plague - an unusually large number of insects or animals infesting a place and causing damage
• locusts - large, tropical grasshoppers with strong powers of flight
• solitary - alone, lonely
• conscience - a person's moral sense of right and wrong
• pesos - the standard unit of money used in Argentina, Mexico, and some other countries
• amiable - goodhearted and kind
• correspondence - communication by exchanging letters
• evident - clearly seen or understood
• goodwill - friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitude
• deliberate - intentional
• resolution - determination
• obliged - legally or morally bound to do something
• contentment - a state of happiness or satisfaction
• deny - to refuse to give something requested or desired to someone
• affixed - to stick securely
• crook - a dishonest person  or a criminal

Character Sketches:

Lencho:

Lencho is a lonely, hardworking farmer. Lencho knew his fields well. He was as strong as an ox. Not only did he work like an animal in the fields, but he also knew how to write. Even when his crops are destroyed due to the hailstorm, he doesn’t lose hope and writes a letter to God. Such was his faith in God that when he sees the money in the mail, he is not even a bit surprised. Lencho is also naïve (lacking wisdom). He is innocent as he believed that God would send him the required money, just by asking. He is naïve when he believed that the people in the post office are crooks. Thus we see that although Lencho is a hardworking and god-loving man, his naivety got the better of him. 

The Postmaster:

The Postmaster comes across as a genuine man. He went out of his way to do an act of goodwill for a stranger. Though he broke out laughing as he received the letter, he is determined not to shake his faith in helping the man in need.  He gave away a part of his salary and collected money from his acquaintances so that he could help Lencho retain his faith in God. So, we see that the postmaster was an amiable and kind person.

The theme of the story:

G.L. Fuentes’ "A Letter to God", is a story of a farmer’s undeterred faith in God and his failing faith in humanity. From the very beginning, Lencho shows faith in nature. He was sure that it would rain and he would have a good harvest of corn. He writes a letter to God demanding a hundred pesos. Lencho’s faith in God takes a step further when he writes another letter in anger. He was sure that God would help him with the required money. He assumed that the remaining thirty pesos were taken away by the post office employees. And hence, he asked God not to send the money by mail.

It is rightly said that faith can move mountains. But it is important to know what we should put our faith in. The Almighty does help those in need by his own ways and means. It may be by the means of a random stranger or our teacher or our parents. We must thank each one of them for even the slightest that they may do for us.

Mijbil - The Otter

Gavin Maxwell-Naturalist

Mijbil - The Otter

Introduction

Otters are found in large numbers in the marshes near Basra, a town in Iraq. The narrator wanted to bring an Otter from Iraq to England and keep it as a pet. This lesson tells us about the author and his pet otter.

About the author

Gavin Maxwell was born on 15 July 1914. He was a naturalist and author. He is best known for his work with otters. In his book, ‘Ring of Bright Water’, he described how he brought an otter back from Iraq and raised it in Scotland. The book went on to sell over a million copies and was made into a film.

Summary

The author lived in a cottage in Camusfearna in Scotland. He had a pet dog Jonnie. When Jonnie died, he did not keep a dog again for some time. But life without a pet was lonely. So he decided to have an otter as a pet instead of a dog. His home in Scotland had much water around it. So it would be suitable for an otter.

The author happens to go to Iraq and he shared this idea with a friend who was travelling with him. His friend suggested that otters are found in the Tigris marshes of Iraq. The author had to wait in Basra for his mail. While he was waiting for his mail, an otter was brought to him by two Arabs in a sack.

The otter was a small dragon-like creature. It was covered with mud from head to tail. Under the mud, it had a soft velvet skin. It took the author many days to completely remove the mud from his body. He named the otter `Mijbil’. At first, Mijbil was neither hostile nor friendly. He was simply aloof and indifferent. On the first night, it slept on the floor. The next night, he slipped on the author’s bed and slept between his knees. Gradually, Mijbil started taking interest in its surroundings.

When Mijbil was taken to the bathroom, he enjoyed his bath. He went wild with joy in the water of the tub. The author knew that otters are fond of water. Soon the otter became habitual of being called as ‘Mij’. He followed the author when he called his name.

It spent most of its time playing with a rubber ball and marbles. He would throw the ball like a soccer player. His real play was when he lay on his back and played with small objects between his paws. He could throw the ball a flick of his neck. His favourite toys were marbles.

Eventually, it was time for the author to return to Camusfearna. He knew that the British Airline would not fly animals to London. So he had to book a flight to Paris in another airline and another to London. The airline advised that Mij should be packed in a box. To get him accustomed for the same, the author put Mij into it the box an hour before he started for the airport. When he returned after his meal he noticed blood trickling from the air holes. As he opened it, he found Mij troubled and covered with blood. Mij had torn the inner lining of the box. It was just ten minutes to the flight and the airport was five miles away. So the author put it back in the box and hurried to the airport.

The aircraft was waiting to take off. He rushed in. Inside the flight, he covered the place near his seat with newspapers. He gave the parcel of fish to the air hostess for the otter. She cooperated with the author and advised him to keep the pet on his knee. But soon Mij was out of the box. He disappeared and soon chaos followed in the plane. There were squawks and shrieks all around. The author found the otter beneath the legs of an Indian passenger. When he tried to catch the otter, his face got covered in curry. The air hostess assured him that she would find the otter. The author returned to his seat. After some time, the otter came to him and sat in his lap.

The otter and the author remained in London for nearly a month. Mijbil used to play for hours with toys, ping-pong balls, marbles, rubber fruit, etc. He would place the ball on the sloping top of the suitcase. Then he would hurry and catch it before the ball fell off the suitcase. The author used to take Mij out for exercise and walk. Mij developed certain habits on those walks. He went with the author like children playing, running and touching things in the streets.

In London, many people had not seen an otter. When they saw Mij, they would make guesses about what kind of an animal it was. The author faced a stream of questions filled with guesses. The people guessed that it could be a baby seal, a walrus, a hippo, a beaver, a bear cub, a leopard, etc. But nobody could guess that it was an otter.

Character Sketch

Mijbil, the Otter: Mijbil the Otter was an extremely lovable creature. He was intelligent too. It took him only a couple of days to get accustomed to the new surroundings with the author. Mijbil was intelligent enough to respond to the calls of the author. Also, he learnt how to turn on the water tap in the bathroom. Mijbil was extremely fond of water. He would splash. Plunge and roll about in any amount of water that he came across. The otter also comes across as a very sensitive creature. When the author leaves him inside a box, Mijbil is panic-stricken and in his attempt to escape from the box, he hurts himself grievously. His playful nature could be seen, when he escaped from the author’s lap and travelled all over the plane much to the surprise and fear of the other passengers. Thus, we see that Mijbil, the Otter was an extremely lovable and playful creature but also sensitive at times.

The theme of the story

The story clearly reflects the love that the author had for animals, especially, the otter. After having lost his pet dog, the author decides to keep an otter as a pet. Naturally, handling an otter or for that matter, any animal out of its habitat, is not an easy task. One has to be well aware of its habits, nature, food etc. Owning a pet is a lifetime of commitment involving considerable responsibility. The decision to acquire one, therefore, should be made by the whole family. Without full agreement by everyone, the pet could end up unwanted. Unfortunately, cute looking animals often suffer disadvantages, because people purchase them without consideration and the knowledge on how to take proper care of them. Hence, it is very important to read and research before adopting or buying a pet.