A Triumph of Surgery

1.0About 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 experience as a veterinary surgeon to write a series of books, each consisting of stories about animals and their owners.

2.0Central Idea

The story revolves around an ill dog named Tricki and his mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey. The dog was ill and hugely fat. His eyes were blood red and rheumy. Mrs. Pumphrey gave him cod liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks. Still, Tricki had no energy. The doctor advises Mrs. Pumphrey to cut down on sweet things. After a few days, Tricki left eating and kept vomiting. The doctor decided to take him away for some days from Mrs. Pumphrey. The doctor didn't give Tricki anything to eat for the first two days except water. On the third day, there were signs of improvement. Tricki started to take an interest in his surroundings and started to take food properly. The doctor didn't give him any medical treatment. Tricki started to play with the other dogs cheerfully. Soon he recovered fully. Mrs. Pumphrey continued enquiring about Tricki on the phone. Finally, the doctor told about Tricki's recovered condition. When Mrs. Pumphrey came to collect the dog, tears were shining in her eyes. She called this magical recovery 'A Triumph of Surgery.'

3.0Tricki - A Bloated Sausage

Dr. Herriot had pulled up his car when he saw Mrs. Pumphrey with her little dog on the street. The dog was very fat. He had blood-red and rheumy eyes. His tongue lolled from his jaws. Dr. Herriot was shocked to see his appearance. Mrs. Pumphrey called Tricki (the little dog) as listless. He had no energy. So, she gave him extras between meals. But his health could not be built up. Even the malt, cod liver oil and bowl of Horlicks failed to make him sleepy. Mrs. Pumphrey cut down on the sweet things but relented when Tricki started getting weaker. She gave him his favourite cream cakes and chocolates. She gave him food at odd and irregular hours. She gave him only little walks and no other exercise. The doctor advised Mrs. Pumphrey to cut Tricki's food right down and to give him more exercise. Mrs. Pumphrey got determined to adhere to the doctor's stern advice. One day Mr. Herriot received a frantic call from Mrs. Pumphrey telling him that Tricki was vomiting and not eating anything. Mr. Herriot knew this was going to happen and had made plans in advance. So he advised keeping Tricki under observation for a fortnight without wasting any more time.

4.0Tricki - A Miserable Dog

When Mr. Herriot went to pick up Tricki, all the maids got busy arranging Tricki's coats and belongings to go along with him. But Mr. Herriot could not take all that with him because of his small car. When they arrived at the surgery, the other dogs at the surgery ignored him as an uninteresting object. The doctor gave him plenty of water for the next two days. He became a bit energetic after two days. On the third day, he trotted out and enjoyed the company of other dogs. He also started eating properly. He was now making low noises when he heard other dogs.

5.0A Token of Gratitude

Mrs. Pumphrey enquired about Tricki on phone many times a day. She was suffering from the pangs of his separation. When she came to know about the recovery of Tricki, she again started to send many things for Tricki. In order to facilitate the speedy recovery and improve her pet's strength, she started sending fresh eggs. To enrich his blood, she sent wine and brandy. Herriot and his partners at the surgery were very much surprised at the lavish supply, and they enjoyed themselves with all these supplements during their meals. After a fortnight, Herriot informed Mrs Pumphrey that Tricky was all right and was awaiting collection. To her surprise, Mrs Pumphrey found Tricki had been transformed into a hard muscled and an active animal. On seeing his mistress, Tricki swarmed over her. Mrs Pumphrey was overwhelmed to see her pet to be very active. She expressed her gratitude to Mr Herriot, calling her pet's recovery was 'A triumph of surgery'.

6.0Recall

• Mrs. Pumphrey was a wealthy woman who had a pet dog named Tricki. She loved her dog excessively.
• Tricki was greedy & loved food but did not exercise.
• One day, when Mrs. Pumphrey was out with Tricki for a walk, the narrator, Mr. Herriot, the family vet, saw them.
• He was shocked to see Tricki because he looked like a bloated sausage. His eyes were red and watery.
• He advised her to reduce Tricki's diet. He warned Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki would soon fall ill if she did not keep him on a strict diet and increase his exercise hours.
• There was a call from Mrs. Pumphrey within a few days, informing about Tricki's illness.
• Being a veteran in his field, he realized that the only way to get Tricki well was to get him out of the house for a few days.
• He told Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki needed immediate hospitalization for keeping under observation at his surgery for a fortnight.
• Even though Mrs. Pumphrey was crying because she did not want her dog to go away from her, he brought the dog to his surgery and kept him along with a pack of other dogs.
• For the first two days, he gave him no food, no medicine but plenty of water. On the third day, Tricki began to whimper when he heard the other dogs in the yard.
• Gradually, he became an accepted member of their gang and started playing with them. He had a lot of exercises & fun.
• He was completely recovered and transformed into a hard-muscled dog.
• After a fortnight, Herriot called Mrs. Pumphrey and informed her that Tricki was all right and was awaiting collection.
• Within minutes, Mrs. Pumphrey was there at the surgery. Tricki had been transformed into a hard-muscled and active animal, to her surprise.
• On seeing his mistress, Tricki swarmed over her. Mrs. Pumphrey was overwhelmed to see her pet be very active.
• She thanked Mr. Herriot & said the treatment of her pet was nothing but 'A triumph of surgery'.
• James Herriot had treated the dog without medicine or surgery.