Literature Companion 10 1

Footprints Without Feet

1. A Triumph of Surgery
(James Herriot)

ABOUT THE STORY

Introduction
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The story "A Triumph of Surgery" is a humorous account of an

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overfed dog who has become very fat and sick thanks to the excessive
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concern of his owner. The narrator, a veterinary surgeon, rescues the
or
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dog by taking him to his hospital after convincing the owner that the
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k

animal could not be cured at home. He treats the dog by putting him
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Y
B

on compulsive fasting for two days. However, the owner mistakenly

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considers the pet's cure to be a triumph of surgery, least realizing that

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ad

controlled diet and exercise were responsible for the pet's recovery.
Y
nd
Re

Summary
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The narrator of the story "A Triumph of Surgery" is Dr Herriot, a

veterinary surgeon who gets really worried about Tricki, the pet dog
of a rich woman Mrs Pumphrey. He is shocked to see the excessively fat
dog with red eyes and lolling tongue walking with his owner in the
street.
Mrs Pumphrey, who is foolishly indulgent, claims that Tricki's
listlessness is an outcome of malnutrition. So, she overfeeds him with
some 'extras' like malt and cod-liver oil. She also gives him a bowl of
Horlicks at night to make him sleep well. In addition, she serves him
cream cakes and chocolates in spite of the vet's advice to cut down o.
the dog's sweet intake. Dr Herriot concludes that the real problen

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2 Literature Companion 10

with the dog is his greed for food along with excessive pampering by
his owner. To make things worse, Tricki is not being given adequate
physical exercise.
The vet warns Mrs Pumphrey that if Tricki's diet is not modified and
if he is not given exercise, he is bound to become seriously unwell.
This prediction comes true within a few days. Tricki stops eating and
lies panting all the time on the rug with intermittent bouts of
vomiting. The vet had anticipated this situation and is ready with a
plan. The foremost tiring he does is to get Tricki away from his owner.

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So, he convinces her that the dog has to be hospitalized for a fortnight
Flo
in order to cure him. This makes Mrs Pumphrey restless as she is certain

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that her dog would not be able to bear such a long separation from
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her. But the vet is determined to save the little dog and he takes him
or
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away, wrapped in a blanket, much against the wishes of his owner.
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ks
Yo

At the surgery, the other dogs get curious and gather round the vet.
oo
B

They sniff the motionless Tricki and find him to be an uninteresting

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object. They ignore him when he does not respond.

ou
ad

The doctor makes a comfortable bed for Tricki and places him in a loose
Y

box next to where other dogs used to sleep. He observes him closely
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Re
Fi

for two days and does not give him any food except plenty of water.
Towards the close of the second day, Tricki starts taking some interest
in his surroundings and on the third day he starts making a feeble
sound in response to the dogs in the yard. When the doctor opens the
door, Tricki goes out slowly and is immediately surrounded by Joe, the
greyhound, and other dogs. They inspect him, roll him over, and move
off down the garden. Tricki follows them despite his surplus fat.
Later, at the feeding time on that day, the dogs rush headlong towards
their bowls and start eating noisily and greedily. After the dogs finish
their food, Tricki walks up to the shining bowls and casually licks into
a couple of them. The next day, an extra bowl is kept and the doctor

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Literature Companion 10 3

feels happy on seeing Tricki jostling towards the bowls. From this
point onwards, Tricki's recovery paces up. He starts taking interest in
playing with other dogs who accept him as a member of their gang.
Like them, he too starts fighting for food at meal time, and at night
hunts for rats. Dr Herriot is pleased to see Tricki recover without any
medication.
However, a worried Mrs Pumphrey keeps on ringing up the surgery
at least a dozen times a day to inquire whether her pet dog's comfort is

w
being taken care of. Dr Herriot smartly evades her queries and
assures her that Tricki is out of danger and is improving gradually.
Flo
ee
This makes Mrs Pumphrey anxious and she begins to send abundant
Fr
supply of eggs and wine to enrich her little dog's blood. This feast is
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used by the vet and his attendants since such a rich diet was not good
f

for the dog.

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Yo
oo

After relishing these delicacies for a fortnight, the doctor overcomes

B
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the temptation of extending Tricki's stay. He informs Mrs Pumphrey

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ad

that the dog has recovered fully and can be taken back home.
Y

Within minutes of this call, Mrs Pumphrey arrives in her long gleaming
nd
Re

car to collect Tricki. Dr Herriot fetches the cured dog who is now an
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agile, muscular and smart animal. Tricki surprises his owner by rushing
through the chauffeur's open door, licking her face and barking out of
sheer happiness. Mrs Pumphrey thanks the doctor and drives away
with tears of joy, thinking that surgery saved her dog's life.

TITLE

"A Triumph of Surgery" is an apt title for the story. Tricki's speedy
recovery is actually the outcome of appropriate diagnosis and accurate
treatment. Such a recovery is usually obtained only after surgical
intervention. But Dr Herriot's wisdom and initiative to keep Tricki
away from his owner and bringing him to the surgery to cure him by

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4 Literature Companion 10

simply cleansing his system becomes a 'triumph' over Tricki's ailment

in the real sense.

THEME

The story is based on the theme that over-indulgence can be life

threatening, especially when the caretaker is ignorant. Tricki's life
comes under threat because his owner, Mrs Pumphrey expresses her
love for him by overfeeding him.
Another theme of the story is the tactfulness of a young and efficient

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veterinary surgeon. He cures Tricki without any medication by
simply controlling his diet and giving him proper exercise.

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MESSAGE
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Through the story "A Triumph of Surgery", the author, who is a
for
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veterinary surgeon, wants to convey the message that our love for our
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pets should not be expressed by pampering them too much. Such

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Y
B

over-indulgence can be life threatening for the poor animal who

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trusts his master completely. In fact, pets need a balance between

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ad

indulgence and strictness. A restricted wholesome diet, supplemented

Y

with plenty of exercise is all that is needed to keep one's pet healthy.
nd
Re
Fi

Excess of everything is bad, even of love.

HUMOUR

The story "A Triumph of Surgery" is full of situational humour,

coupled with humour resulting out of interesting statements. Tricki's
looking 'like a bloated sausage' or being able to 'tackle a meal at any
hour of the day or night1 is very amusing. Mrs Pumphrey's excessive
concern for Tricki and sending an abundant supply of eggs and wine
for him also makes things funny. The doctor and party having a feast
at the cost of the rich lady is certainly enjoyable. Thus, the entire
episode is replete with situations, incidents and statements that
compel the reader to laugh.

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Literature Companion 10 5

CHARACTERS

Mrs Pumphrey
Mrs Pumphrey is a very rich lady who is over-concerned about her
pet dog Tricki. The excessive love of this over-indulgent woman for
her pet robs her of her power of reasoning. She bows down to his
demands and feeds him with a highly unsuitable diet. She gives him
sweet things like creams and chocolates despite the doctor's orders to
stop overfeeding. Besides, she is very casual about the dog's need for
physical activity. However, she does get genuinely worried when

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Tricki becomes listless and even agrees to send him to the vet's
Flo
surgery for the sake of his well-being. But her anxiousness for his

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recovery compels her to call up the surgery several times a day.
Fr
This woman is rather foolish in some ways since she sends eggs and
for
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wine to the surgery to improve her dog's condition. Earlier too, she
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used to give him things like horlicks to boost his health. Little does she
Yo
oo

realize that her over-indulgence is the precise cause of Tricki's ailment.

eB

Mrs Pumphery is also a show-off and never skips an excuse to flaunt

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ad

her wealth. She reaches the surgery in a flashy car to bring back a
Y

recovered Tricki. Earlier, when Tricki is being taken away by Dr

nd
Re

Herriot, she packs cushions, coats and other stuff for his comfort.
Fi

In sum, Mrs Pumphrey is a typical representation of an idle and rich

woman who is so dumb that it nearly costs Tricki his life.

DrHerriot
Dr Herriot is an efficient veterinary surgeon devoted to his profession.
His concern for Tricki's well-being is genuine; that is why he does not
mince his words while warning a rich woman like Mrs Pumphrey.
He is wise and a good judge of others' character. He knows well that
Mrs Pumphrey's indulgent behaviour towards Tricki will further
ruin the dog's health. Out of her love for the pet, she would never be
able to restrict his diet. So, he plans in advance to move Tricki away
from his owner and bring him to his surgery.
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6 Literature Companion 10

His skill as an accomplished vet is reflected by the fact that he cures

Tricki without resorting to any complicated surgical interventions.
Dr Herriot is also an intelligent and a tactful man. He very smartly
evades answering Mrs Pumphrey's queries regarding Tricki's ailment
and treatment procedure. He wisely side-tracks the issue by telling
her that the dog is out of danger and is gradually improving.
However, he is very considerate and does not take undue advantage
of anyone's trust. He does not prolong the dog's stay simply to keep

low
the supply of goodies sent by Mrs Pumphery going. Earlier, instead of
returning the delicacies sent by Mrs Pumphrey for Tricki, he shares

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them with his friends. In this tactful manner, he not only pleases Mrs
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Pumphery but also keeps his friends happy.
Fr
for

On the whole. Dr Herriot is a capable veterinary surgeon, full of tact,

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ks

commonsense, intelligence and worldly wisdom.

oo
Y

Tricki
B
re

In the beginning of the story, the roly-poly Tricki looks very comical
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ad

owing to his obesity. His greed for food is insatiable and any time is
Y

meal-time for him. He is an overfed and pampered pet who falls ill
nd
Re

due to excessive eating and lack of exercise.

Fi

Tricki is very adaptable and adjusts easily to new situations. Although

he is pampered by his owner with luxuries and good food, he is very
happy at the surgery where he has to make effort to eat his share of
food. His golden body is adorned with flapping ears and he stands
out as a well groomed dog amid the other dogs at the surgery, who are
all shaggy.
Tricki is sociable, so the moment he gets well, he makes friends with
other dogs. He is also a loving pet and showers love and affection
upon his owner when he meets her after a fortnight's separation.
In the end, a two week's stay at the surgery transforms him into a lithe,
hard-muscled animal.
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Literature Companion 10 7

EXTRACTS FOR COMPREHENSION

Rend the following extracts and answer the questions
that follow in one or tivo lines.

(I)
I had pulled up my car when I saw him in the street with his mistress and I was
shocked at his appearance.

(a) Who is Tin the above extract?

In this extract, T is Dr James Herriot, a renowned veterinarian

low
and the author of the story "A Triumph of Surgery".
(b) Whom did T see and where?

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rF
Dr Herriot saw the unwell dog Tricki in his street with his rich
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owner, Mrs Pumphrey.
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(c) Why was the speaker shocked at 'his' appearance?

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ks

The speaker. Dr Herriot, was shocked at the appearance of Tricki

oo
Y
B

because he had become extremely fat, which was certainly

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dangerous for the dog's health.

ou
ad

(d) What was 'his' appearance like?

Y
nd

Tricki had become hugely fat, like a bloated sausage with a leg at
Re
Fi

each corner.

(II)
He had never been known to refuse food; he would tackle a meal at any hour of the
dayornight.

(a) Who is being described in this extract and by whom?

Tricki, the pampered dog of the rich woman Mrs Pumphrey is
being described here by the renowned veterinarian Dr James
Herriot.
(b) What makes the speaker conclude that 'he' had never been known
to refuse food?

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8 Literature Companion 10

Dr Herriot concludes this from the fact that Tricki had become
very fat as a result of overeating.
(c) Why could 'he' tackle a meal at any hour of the day or night?
Tricki could tackle a meal at any hour of the day or night because
he was a very greedy dog.
(d) What was 'he' provided for meals?
Tricki was provided all sorts of goodies like cream cakes and
chocolates for meals.

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Flo(Ill)
"Now I really mean this. If you don't cut his food right down and give him more

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exercise he is going to be really ill.You must harden your heart and keep him on a
Fr
very strict diet."
or
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f

(a) Who speaks these lines and to whom?

ks
Yo

Dr James Herriot speaks these lines to Mrs Pumphrey, the owner

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B

of the unwell dog Tricki.

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(b) Whose food does the speaker suggest to cut down on and why?
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ad
Y

The speaker. Dr James Herriot, suggests cutting down on Tricki's

nd
Re

food because overfeeding was now beginning to threaten his life.

Fi

(c) Who must harden his/her heart and why?

Mrs Pumhrey, Tricki's owner, must harden her heart because her
soft attitude had made the dog obese and had put his life in danger.
(d) What, other than a 'strict diet', did the speaker advise to follow?
The speaker advised to give regular exercise to Tricki other than a
'strict diet'.

(IV)
Later that day I was present at feeding time. I watched while Tristan slopped the
food into the bowls.There was the usual headlong rush followed bythe sounds of
high-speed eating.

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Literature Companion 10 9

(a) Who was present at the feeding time and why?

Dr Herriot was present at the feeding time of the dogs because he
wanted to observe Tricki's behaviour after one day of fasting.
(b) Who was Tristan and why did he slop the food into the bowls?
Tristan was one of the partners of Dr Herriot. He slopped the food
into the bowls of the dogs because they were hungry and
impatient for food.
(c) What is the meaning of the phrase 'headlong rush'?

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Headlong rush1 means everyone moving quickly towards the
same place with their head jutting out.

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(d) Why were there 'sounds of high-speed eating'?
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Fr
The dogs were very hungry and were quickly finishing off their
for

food. In the process, they made loud noises.

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ks

(V)
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Y

He became an accepted member of the gang, an unlikelysilky little object among

B
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the shaggy crew,fighting likea tigerfor his share at mealtimes and hunting rats in
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ad

the old hen-house at night.

Y

(a) Wnho is being discussed here?

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Re
Fi

Tricki, the dog who had fallen ill due to overfeeding, is being
discussed here.
(b) Which gang accepted hinyher?
The gang of the household dogs at the surgery owned by Dr
Herriot accepted Tricki.
(c) What made him/her an unlikely member?
Tricki was silky and small in comparison to the shaggy and large
dogs at the surgery. This made him an unlikely member.
(d) How did 'he' behave after becoming part of the gang?
After becoming part of the gang, Tricki too hunted rats at night
and fought for his share of food at mealtimes.
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10 Literature Companion 10

(VI)
I was able to tell her that the little fellow was out of danger and convalescing
rapidly.
The word 'convalescing' seemed to do something to Mrs Pumphrey.

(a) Who speaks these lines?

Dr James Herriot speaks these lines.
(b) Who is the 'little fellow'?

Tricki, the pet dog of Mrs Pumphrey, is the little fellow.

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(c) What is the meaning of the word 'convalescing'?
Flo
It means recovering gradually.

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Fr
(d) How was Mrs Pumphrey affected by the word 'convalescing'?
for

Mrs Pumphrey started to send fresh eggs and bottles of wine to

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the surgery to improve Tricki's health, once she heard the word
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Yo
oo

'convalescing'.
B
re

(VII)
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ad

They were days of deep content, starting well with the extra egg in the morning,
Y

improved and sustained by the midday wine and finishing luxuriously round the
nd
Re

fire with the brandy.

Fi

(a) Identify the speaker of this sentence.

The speaker of this sentence is the renowned veterinarian Dr
James Herriot.
(b) Which days is the speaker talking about?
Dr Herriot is talking about the days when Tricki was undergoing
treatment at his surgery.
(c) Why does the speaker say that, those days were 'days of deep content?'
The speaker, Dr Herriot, says this because while Tricki was
recovering fast with the help of simple measures, he and his
partners were relishing the delicacies sent by its owner.

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Literature Companion 10 11

(d) Who was sending the supply of eggs and wine and why?
The supply of eggs and wine was coming from Mrs Pumphrey to
supplement the health of her darling pet Tricki.

(VIII)
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 theground.

(a) Whose transformation is being talked about here?

w
The transformation of Tricki, the pampered dog of Mrs Pumphrey,
Flo
is being talked about here.

ee
(b) What was peculiar about the two weeks mentioned here?
Fr
The two weeks mentioned here were peculiar as they were spent
for
ur
by Tricki in the surgery of Dr Herriot away from his overindulgent
ks
Yo

owner Mrs Pumphrey.

oo
B

(c) Why did the transformation take place?

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The transformation took place because Dr Herriot put Tricki on a

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ad

strict diet and allowed him enough scope to run about like
Y

normal dogs.
nd
Re
Fi

(d) What was 'his1 condition before the transformation took place?
Tricki's condition was very bad before the transformation took
place. He was listless, looked like a bloated sausage, moved with
a lolling tongue and had dull looks.

(IX)
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 outofthe window.Tearsshone in hereyes.

(a) What is the 'excitement' being talked about?

Mrs Pumphrey's excitement is being talked about here. Tricki's

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12 Literature Companion 10

return to his home after getting fully cured at Dr Herriot's

surgery has left her super-excited.
(b) Why hadn't the beds, toys, cushions etc been used?
These items had not been used because Tricki had been kept in
the surgery like normal dogs. He had to fight for his share of food
and play and live amongst the other household dogs.
(c) Why did Mrs Pumphrey lean out of the window of the moving car?
Mrs Pumphrey was overwhelmed to see the quick recovery of her

w
pet and leaned out of the window of the moving car to express her
gratitude to Dr Herriot.
Flo
ee
(d) Why did tears shine in Mrs Pumphrey's eyes? Fr
Tears shone in Mrs Pumphrey's eyes because she was both
for
ur
relieved at Tricki's recovery and touched by the help extended by
ks

Dr Herriot.
Yo
oo
B
re
ou
ad
Y
nd
Re
Fi

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Literature Companion 10 13

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

(to be answered in about 30 - 40 words each)

Ql. Who was Dr Herriot?
Dr James Herriot was a veterinary surgeon and the narrator of
the story "A Triumph of Surgery". He ran a hospital where he
treated Tricki, the pampered pet dog of Mrs Pumphrey, for
listlessness and obesity.
Q2. Why was Dr Herriot really worried about Tricki? Or
How was Mrs Pumphrey's overindulgence a cause of concern for

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Dr Herriot? Flo
Dr Herriot was really worried about Tricki because the latter

ee
Fr
had become very fat due to overeating. In addition, he was not
given sufficient physical exercise by his overindulgent owner,
for
ur
Mrs Pumphrey. Had this situation continued, it could have spelt
ks
Yo

disaster for the hapless animal.

oo
B

Q3. Why was Dr Herriot shocked at Tricki's appearance?

re

Dr Herriot was shocked at Tricki's appearance because overeating

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ad

had made him excessively fat. His eyes were bloodshot and he
Y

suffered from a watery discharge. Moreover, he walked with

nd
Re
Fi

great difficulty and panted while walking.

Q4. Why did Mrs Pumphrey think that Tricki was suffering from
malnutrition? What did she do?
Mrs Pumphrey thought that Tricki was suffering from
malnutrition because he had become listless. So, she gave him
small portions of malt and cod-liver oil in between meals to
build him up. She also gave him a bowl of Horlicks at night to
make him sleep.
Q5. Why did the doctor suggest to cut down on Tricki's sweet intake?
Was this advice followed? Why/Why not?
The doctor suggested to cut down on Tricki's sweet intake as it

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14 Literature Companion 10

would have helped in controlling his obesity. However, this

advice was not followed because Mrs Pumphrey gave in to
Tricki's love for cream cakes and chocolates.
Q6. What was Tricki's only fault? What was its outcome?
Or
What was the trouble, according to Doctor Herriot?
Or
"Tricki's only fault was his greed". How did it get him into trouble?
According to Dr Herriot, the only trouble with Tricki was his

w
greed for food. As a consequence, he accepted every type of food
Flo
at any time and in any quantity. This made him hugely fat with

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bloodshot eyes, and his tongue lolled from his jaws.
Fr
Q7. Give two reasons that made Tricki fat.
for
ur
The first reason was the overindulgence of Tricki's owner, Mrs
ks
Yo

Pumphrey, who fed him cream cakes and chocolates. She also
oo
B

fed him food supplements like malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks.
re

The second reason was the greed of Tricki owing to which he

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ad

never refused the food that was offered to him.

Y

Q8. How can you know that Mrs. Pumphrey pampered Tricki ?
nd
Re
Fi

We know that Mrs. Pumphrey pampered Tricki because she

used to give him cream cakes, chocolates, cod-liver oil and
Horlicks in between meals. Besides, she always gave in to his
demand for food inspite of the doctor's advice to restrict his diet.
She didn't give him enough exercise either.
Q9. How do you know that Tricki had an affluent life? (Textual)
The affluent life of Tricki can be noted from the fact that he had a
night bed, day bed, cushions, toys, rubber rings, breakfast bowl,
lunch bowl, supper bowl and a wardrobe of expensive coats.
Q10. What did Mrs Pumphrey do to help Tricki? Is she wise in this?
Mrs Pumphrey always thought that Tricki was suffering from

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Literature Companion 10 15

malnutrition and thus tried to build him up by supplementing

his food with malt and cod-liver oil. She also gave him Horlicks
to let him have a sound sleep at night. However, it was an
unwise gesture as overfeeding made the dog ill.
Qll. How did the 'little extras' between the meals affect Tricki?
The 'little extras' between meals had an adverse effect on Tricki's
health. This overfeeding made him lethargic and listless. He
looked like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner.
Q12. What do you understand by the expression: "He would tackle a

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meal at any hour of the day or night."?
This expression indicates that Tricki's greed for food was

ee
rF
Fr
insatiable. He would readily accept every type of food item at
any time of the day or night. Thus, it was always a meal time for
for
ou

this glutton.
ks

Q13. What were the 'possible things' not mentioned by Mrs Pumphrey
oo
Y
B

to Dr Herriot and why did the doctor wonder about them?

re

Dr Herriot knew very well that Mrs Pumphrey pampered Tricki

ou
ad

excessively. So, he was quite sure that she had not given the
Y

exact picture when she mentioned Tricki's diet. There must have
nd
Re
Fi

been more sweet things and health boosters that she fed to Tricki.
Q14. What did Mrs Pumphrey tell Dr Herriot when he inquired about
Tricki's exercise regime?
Mrs Pumphrey offered a lame excuse when Dr Herriot inquired
about Tricki's exercise regime. She said that Tricki had his little
walks with her because Hodgkin, the gardener, was down with
lumbago, so Tricki was not getting the ring-throwing exercise.
Q15. "I tried to sound severe. "How did Dr Herriot do this? Or
What advice did Dr Herriot give to Mrs Pumphrey, in order to
keep Tricki fit?

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16 Literature Companion 10

The doctor advised Mr Pumphrey in a severe tone to cut down

on Tricki's food and to give him plenty of exercise, if she wanted
to avoid any serious health complication for her dog.
Q16. "Mrs Pumphrey wrung her hands". When did this happen and
why?
Mrs. Pumphrey wrung her hands in response to Dr Herriot’s
'severe' advice to restrict Tricki's diet. She did so because she
was feeling guilty at having ignored Dr Herriot's instructions.
Her negligence had resulted in Tricki's obesity and listlessness.

w
Q17. What did Doctor Herriot observe while watching the progress of
Flo
Tricki and his owner? Or

ee
Fr
"I watched their progress with growing concern." Why does Dr
Herriot think so?
for
ur
Doctor Herriot observed with growing concern that Tricki
ks
Yo

could barely walk. Instead he tottered along in his little tweed

oo
B

coat and struggled on, drooping in his harness.

re

Q18. Why did Doctor Herriot expect to hear from Mrs Pumphrey?
ou
ad

Or
Y

Why was Dr Herriot confident that Tricki would be in hospital

nd
Re
Fi

soon?
Doctor Herriot expected to hear from Mrs Pumphrey because he
knew that the rich woman would continue to interpret her dog's
listlessness as a sign of weakness. She would still overfeed him
and that would certainly make him so unwell that he would
require hospitalisation.
Q19. Why did Mrs Pumphrey make a frantic call to Doctor Herriot?
Mrs Pumphrey made a frantic call to Doctor Herriot because
Tricki had refused to eat even his favourite dishes. Besides, he
had bouts of vomiting and spent all his time lying on the rug,
panting. He didn't go for walks and didn't want to do anything.

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Literature Companion 10 17

Q20. What made Mrs Pumphrey 'distraught'?

Or
Why was Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki? (Textual)
Or
What was Tricki's ailment? How did it worry Mrs Pumphrey?
Tricki's listlessness, bouts of vomiting, lack of interest in food
and activity gave Mrs Pumphrey the impression that her pet
dog was seriously unwell. This was a cause of worry for her
because she actually loved her dog dearly and could not bear to

w
see him in pain. Flo
Q21. "I had made my plans in advance." What plans did Doctor Herriot

ee
make and why? Fr
Doctor Herriot made the plan to cure Tricki by shifting him to
for
ur
the hospital for about a fortnight, away from his overindulgent
ks
Yo

owner. He made this plan in advance because he knew that

oo

Tricki would eventually develop aversion to food and shall

B
re

have to be put on strict diet.

ou
ad

Q22. How did Mrs Pumphrey react when Herriot told her that Tricki
Y

required hospitalisation? Why did she react in this manner?

nd
Re
Fi

Mrs Pumphrey almost swooned when Herriot told her that

Tricki required hospitalisation. She reacted in this manner
because she was sure that her darling pet would pine and die if
he did not see her every day.
Q23. "But I took a firm line". What was the 'firm line' taken by Dr Herriot?
Why?
The 'firm line1 taken by Dr Herriot was that he did not offer any
other way to cure Tricki than hospitalizing him for a fortnight.
He took this stand because he knew that the chief cause of
Tricki's ailment was over feeding by his owner.
Q24. Why was the entire staff roused by Mrs Pumphrey? Or

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18 Literature Companion 10

Why was the entire staff of Mrs Pumphrey at work when Tricki
was being taken to the hospital?
The entire staff of Mrs Pumphrey was roused by her to pack the
paraphernalia of Tricki that she felt he would require at the
hospital. She made them run around and bring over his
favourite cushions, toys, serving bowls, coats and other stuff.
Q25. Why did Dr Herriot drive away without the paraphernalia of
Tricki?

Doctor Herriot drove away without the paraphernalia of Tricki

w
because his car was small and could not hold all that stuff.
Flo
Besides, he did not want Mrs Pumphrey to find any excuse to

ee
keep back Tricki and thus delay his treatment any further.
Fr
Q26. Why do you think Mrs. Pumphrey and her entire staff were in
or
ur
f

tears when Dr. Herriot took away Tricki?

ks
Yo

Or
oo
B

Describe the parting scene between Tricki and Mrs Pumphrey.

re

Mrs. Pumphrey and her entire staff were in tears at the time of
ou
ad

Tricki's parting. This was so because Tricki was loved by all of

Y

them and the separation from him filled them with despair.
nd
Re
Fi

Q27. Mrs Pumphrey's love for her dog is exceptional. Do you agree/
disagree? Give reasons.
Of course, Mrs Pumphrey's love for Tricki is exceptional. The
manner in which she had bought things for his comfort like
cushions, coats, toys, rubber rings and different feeding bowls
show that she adored him. In addition, she fed Tricki with rich
food like cream cakes and chocolates. However, when her
excessive love ruined his health, she did not hesitate to get him
medical help instantly.
Q28. Why was Doctor Herriot confident that he had a cure for Tricki?
Or

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Literature Companion 10 19

The doctor claimed that he knows the cure? What was it and did it
work effectively?
The doctor claimed that he knew the cure because he had
already identified overfeeding to be the cause of Tricki's
ailment. He was confident that by restricting the dog's diet, he
would make him well again. This cure was certainly effective
because fasting for a couple of days made Tricki active and agile.
Q29. What was Tricki's state of health when the doctor brought him to
the surgery?

low
Tricki's health was indeed worrisome when the doctor brought
him to the surgery. The listless, lethargic and overweight dog

ee
rF
had lost all interest in food to the extent that he did not show any
Fr
interest even in his favourite dishes. He was panting for breath
for
ou

and had bouts of vomiting.

ks

Q30. What do you think, had made Tricki listless ?

oo
Y
B

Tricki had been made listless by overfeeding and excessive

re

pampering by his owner. In addition, lack of exercise and

ou
ad

willing acceptance of rich food like cream cakes and chocolates

Y

also added to his already bloated body which made it difficult

nd
Re
Fi

for him to remain active.

Q31. How was Tricki received at the surgery by other dogs?
Or
Why did the household dogs at the surgery consider Tricki to be
an uninteresting ob j ect to start with?
When Tricki was brought to the surgery, the household dogs
crowded round him. However, the new comer took no interest
in their advances and lay motionless. So after a while, the other
dogs ignored him considering him to be an uninteresting object.
Q32. How did the household dogs behave at feeding time?
The household dogs rushed to the feeding bowls as soon as food

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20 Literature Companion 10

was put in them. They made loud sounds while eating their
portion quickly. They were in a rush because the food of slow
eaters was likely to be snatched by those who finished their
share early.
Q33. What immediate step did Mr Herriot take to save Tricki ?
Or
What are the first few measures taken by Herriot to save Tricki?
In order to save Tricki, Doctor Herriot made a bed for him in a
warm loose box next to the other dogs. He did not give him any

w
food for two days and cleansed his system by giving him plenty
Flo
of water. Besides, he kept an eye on him and observed closely

ee
the symptoms that marked his gradual return to normalcy.
Fr
Q34. What was Tricki's response to his surroundings at the surgery on
for
ur
the third day of his stay? Or
ks
Yo

What was the first symptom of Tricki's recovery?

oo
B

After two days of fasting, Tricki began to whimper when he

re

heard the dogs in the yard on the third day. He trotted out to be
ou
ad
Y

with them when Doctor Herriot opened the door. This was the
nd

first symptom of his recovery.

Re
Fi

Q35. What happened at the feeding time later on the third day of
Tricki's stay at the surgery?
Or
On the third day after the dogs had finished their meal, what did
Tricki do?
At the feeding time later on the third day of Tricki's stay at the
surgery, Tricki examined the bowls of other dogs after they had
finished eating. He casually licked inside one or two of them
indicating that he was regaining his appetite.
Q36. Why was Doctor pleased by Tricki's behaviour when he licked
casually inside the feeding bowls of other dogs?

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Literature Companion 10 21

The doctor was pleased by Tricki's behaviour because he did not

want to resort to surgical procedure in order to cure him. The
simple measure of fasting the dog and giving him plenty of
water resolved his health problems.
Q37. What was Tricki's reaction on the fourth day when an extra bowl
was added for him? Why was Doctor Herriot pleased at this
reaction?
Initial starvation at the surgery made Tricki overcome his
aversion for food (caused owing to over-feeding at home). On

w
the fourth day, jostling with the other dogs, he rushed to the
Flo
additional bowl of the food kept for him. This pleased the doctor

ee
because he was working to bring back precisely this kind of
Fr
behaviour in Tricki.
for
ur
Q38. What brought about the progress in Tricki's condition?
ks
Yo

Running about with the other dogs at the hospital and joining
oo
B

them in their friendly scrimmages brought about the progress in

re

Tricki's condition. This progress was rapid and had come about
ou
ad

without medicinal treatment of any kind.

Y

Q39. Why did Herriot find Tricki to be like an unlikely object at the
nd
Re
Fi

surgery? Or
How did Tricki become 'an accepted member of the gang' from an
'unlikely object'?
Tricki was a well groomed dog with a silky coat and this made
him appear like an unlikely object amidst the shaggy bunch of
dogs at the surgery. However, he was accepted as one of their
own kind since they bowled over, tramped on and squashed
each other every few minutes. Together, they hunted rats at
night and fought for food at mealtimes.
Q40. What made Herriot conclude that Tricki had never had such a
time in his life as he had at the surgery?

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22 Literature Companion 10

Herriot observed that Tricky too fought like a tiger with the
dogs at the hospital for his share at mealtimes and hunted rats
with them in the old hen-house at night. This fun-filled life of
Tricki made Herriot conclude that the dog had never had such a
time in his life.
Q41. How did Mrs Pumphrey hover in the background when Tricki
was undergoing treatment at the hospital?
Mrs Pumphrey hovered anxiously in the background during
Tricki's treatment by ringing up a dozen times a day for update

w
on her pet's condition. She enquired whether his cushions were
Flo
being turned regularly or his correct warm coat was put on him.

ee
Q42. How did the doctor handle Mrs Pumphrey's persistent and anxious
Fr
queries about Tricki?
or
ur
f

Dr Herriot very intelligently side-tracked Mrs Pumphrey's

ks
Yo

persistent queries regarding the physical comfort enjoyed by

oo
B

Tricki at the surgery and told her that he was 'out of danger and
re

convalescing rapidly'.
ou
ad

Q43. What was Mrs Pumphrey's reaction to the word 'convalescing'?

Y

Or
nd
Re
Fi

How did Mrs Pumphrey respond on learning that Tricki was 'out
of danger and was convalescing rapidly'?
Or
Why did Mrs Pumphrey started sending eggs and wine to the
surgery?
The word 'convalescing' acted like magic for Mrs Pumphrey
and she immediately thought of building up Tricki's strength.
She started sending fresh eggs by dozens regularly which were
later followed by bottles of wine to enrich Tricki's blood.
Q44. Why had breakfast and lunch become a happy period and a
ceremonial occasion respectively for Herriot and his partners?

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Literature Companion 10 23

Breakfast had become a happy period because Herriot and his

partners would relish two eggs each at this time. Lunch had
become a ceremonial occasion because they now had two glasses
of wine before, and several during the meal. These goodies were
sent by Mrs Pumphrey for Tricki but were actually consumed
by Herriot and his partners.
Q45. What made Herriot feel that his days were 'days of deep content'?
Herriot felt that his days were 'days of deep content1 as he and

w
his partners had an extra egg for breakfast to begin the day well,
midday wine to improve and sustain this nourishment, and
Flo
brandy at night. This luxury was all at the expense of Tricki's

ee
Fr
rich owner who was trying to pamper her dog even when he
was at the hospital.
or
ur
f

Q46. Why was Doctor Herriot tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent

ks
Yo

guest?
oo
B

The doctor was tempted to keep Tricki in the surgery as a

re

permanent guest because Mrs Pumphrey's generosity towards

ou
ad

her dog was actually being relished by the doctor and his
Y
nd

partners. They could enjoy the eggs, wine and brandy sent by
Re
Fi

her only till the dog was at the hospital.

Q47. What compelled Herriot to tell Mrs Pumphrey that Tricki had
recovered and could be taken home?
Or
What made the doctor inform Mrs Pumphrey that the dog had
fully recovered?
Though Tricki's presence in the surgery would have made the
doctor's life luxurious, yet he informed Mrs Pumphrey about
the dog's complete recovery because he knew that she loved her
pet dearly and was missing him a lot. Doctor Herriot was an
honest man who did not intend to shatter the trust of the lady.

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24 Literature Companion 10

Q48. What followed minutes after Herriot's call to Mrs Pumphrey?

Why?
Minutes after Herriot's call to Mrs Pumphrey, the rich woman
reached the surgery in her chauffeur driven thirty feet long
gleaming black car. The lady arrived promptly because she had
really been missing her pet badly and was eagerly looking
forward to a green signal from the doctor.
049. Why was Mrs Pumphrey still worried when she came to the

w
surgery to collect Tricki?
Mrs Pumphrey was still worried when she came to the surgery
Flo
to collect Tricki because she had seen Tricki in a very bad shape

ee
Fr
prior to his arrival at the surgery. She could not believe the news
that Tricki had actually come out of such a serious health issue in
for
ur
such a short time.
ks
Yo
oo

Q50. What transformations had taken place in Tricki after his two
B

weeks' stay at the surgery?

re

Or
ou
ad
Y

Describe Tricki's physique on the day he left the surgery.

nd
Re

A fortnight's stay in the surgery had transformed Tricki

Fi

completely. He was no longer listless and lethargic. Now he was

a lithe, 'hard-muscled' animal who competed well with the rest
of the dogs. He stretched out in great bounds and his chest
almost brushed the ground.
Q51. How did Tricki react when he saw his owner after a gap of two
weeks? Or
How did Tricki greet his owner when she came to fetch him?
What was Mrs Pumphrey's reaction?
On seeing his owner, Tricki jumped out of the doctor's arms and
very comfortably 'sailed into Mrs Pumphrey's lap'. He swarmed
over her licking and barking excitedly. Mrs Pumphrey too was

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Literature Companion 10 25

elated and felt overwhelmed with emotions on seeing him.

Tears of joy rolled out of her eyes when she got Tricki back.
Q52. What was Tricki's paraphernalia? Why did it remain unused at
the surgery?
Tricki's paraphernalia was the numerous cushions, toys, coats,
and feeding bowls that his rich owner had sent over to the
hospital to make his stay comfortable. All this remained unused
because Tricki was a dog who only needed a lot of physical
exercise and rough games to revive his appetite.

w
Q53. Why did tears roll out of Mrs Pumphrey's eyes while leaving the
Flo
surgery?

ee
Fr
Tears rolled out of Mrs Pumphrey's eyes while leaving the
surgery because she was overwhelmed to see her darling pet
for
ur
dog having recuperated fully and that too within a short period.
ks
Yo

This welled up emotions in her that she could not express in

oo
B

words and shed tears instead.

re

Q54. Why did Mrs Pumphrey think that her dog's recovery was a
ou
ad

triumph of surgery?
Y
nd

Or
Re
Fi

Is Mrs Pumphrey right in considering Tricki's cure to be a

triumph of surgery? Give reason for your answer.
Mrs Pumphrey thought that her dog's recovery was a triumph
of surgery because Tricki had regained perfect health within a
span of few days only. Such a quick and complete cure is usually
possible only after surgery. However, she was not right in this
belief since Tricki had recovered through the simple process of
strict diet and exercise.

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26 Literature Companion 10

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

(to be ansivered in about 100 - 150 words each)

Ql. Mrs Pumphrey's concern for Tricki was excessively indulgent and
was nothing short of mania. Discuss.
Mrs Pumphrey's concern for Tricki was nothing short of mania.
She behaved like an overindulgent mother and made a very
elaborate wardrobe for him. Tricki had different coats for winter
and rainy days. His beds for day and night were also different.
Similarly, he had separate bowls for breakfast, lunch and supper.

w
He had a lot of toys and many rubber rings to play with. The food
Flo
served to him at home was unimaginably varied and rich. He

ee
was even fed desserts like cream cakes and chocolates and was
Fr
pampered with supplements like malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks.
for
ur
Her mania for her pet's health was evident again when she
ks

started sending ample supply of fresh eggs, bottles of wine, and

Yo
oo

brandy at the hospital to tone up his health.

B
re

All this proves that Mrs Pumphrey's concern for Tricky was
ou
ad

nothing short of a mania.

Y

Q2. How is an unduly kind attitude of Tricki's owner responsible for

nd
Re

his ailment? Or
Fi

Do you think Mrs Pumphrey is herself responsible for Tricki's

illness?
Mrs Pumphrey is over-indulgent towards Tricki and thus has an
excessively kind attitude for him. She dotes on him like an
unduly kind mother. She is always worried about his health and
thinks that he is malnourished. As a result, she overfeeds him
with malt and cod-liver oil in addition to his already rich diet to
make him strong. All these things make Tricki a glutton and he
accepts food at every hour of the day or night. This makes him
obese to such an extent that he looks like a 'bloated sausage'. Mrs

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Literature Companion 10 27

Pumphrey's over-indulgence makes her neglect the doctor's

advice, too. Thus Tricki, an overfed creature, eventually becomes
listless and lethargic and loses all appetite. He has to be
ultimately hospitalized for administering a strict diet and
exercise regime that could have easily been carried out at home.
Thus, it can be said that Tricki's discomfort and ailment are due
to Mrs Pumphrey's overindulgence.
Q3. Describe Tricki's first three days at the surgery.
Or

w
Describe Tricki's progress at the surgery.
Flo
Tricki's entry into the surgery on the first day drew over all the

ee
dogs to him. They were keen to befriend him but soon withdrew
Fr
owing to his indifference and listlessness. Then Dr Herriot tried
or
ur
to make Tricki comfortable by putting him to bed in a warm loose
f
ks

box and placed it where the other dogs were to sleep. Keeping
Yo
oo

a vigilant eye on him, the doctor served him plenty of water

B
re

but no food for the first two days. On the evening of the second
ou
ad

day, Tricki started responding and showed interest in his

Y

surroundings. On the third day, he whimpered on hearing other

nd
Re

dogs and on being let loose, he trotted out to join them. They
Fi

too accepted him as a member of the gang after a thorough

inspection. Then, they all played together, enjoyed friendly
fights and squashed each other. Thus, within three days Tricki
regained his normal agile self.
Q4. Compare and contrast Tricki in the beginning and in the end of
the story.
In the beginning of the story, Tricki was excessively obese and
walked with great difficulty. He looked like a 'bloated sausage1
with bloodshot eyes and a lolling tongue from his jaws. In the
words of Mrs Pumphrey, he was 'listless'. Owing to overfeeding

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28 Literature Companion 10

by his owner, he had become a glutton who never refused food.

His physical mobility was too little and he wasn't given any
regular exercise either. Thus he fell ill, lost all interest in food and
suffered bouts of vomiting. The situation became so bad that he
had to be hospitalised. However, a fortnight's supervision by the
expert veterinary surgeon, Doctor Herriot, and a strict diet with
exercise regime eventually cured him of his ailment. He began to
behave like a normal dog and started participating in all the
activities like the other dogs. This made him agile, strong

w
muscled and healthy in the end.
Flo
Q5. "Excess of everything is bad". Discuss the truth of this statement

ee
with reference to Mrs Pumphrey's love for Tricki.
Fr
"Excess of everything is bad" is a statement that stands absolutely
for
ur
true with regard to Mrs Pumphrey's love for Tricki. She was a
ks

very rich woman who could afford every possible comfort for
Yo
oo

her pet. To show her love for Tricki, she always depended on
B
re

things that her money could buy. In the process she overlooked
ou
ad

the need of a strict diet and ample exercise regime.

Y

The ill-effects of her overindulgence made Tricki excessively fat

nd
Re

and he began to look like a 'bloated sausage'. He walked with

Fi

great difficulty and lost all interest in things around him. Still,
Mrs Pumphrey failed to realise the seriousness of the matter and
kept on giving him 'little extras between meals'. She loaded him
with cream cakes and chocolates simply because she couldn't
bear to refuse him. On top of it, the dog wasn't given any exercise
to stay fit. This worsened the dog's health.
If Dr Herriot had not intervened at the right time, Mrs
Pumphrey's love would have possibly led to Tricki's death.
Therefore, excess love of Mrs Pumphrey for Tricki was certainly
bad both for the dog and herself.

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Literature Companion 10 29

Q6. What would you have done if you were in the narrator's place?
(Textual)
Had I been in the narrator's place, I would have treated Tricki
exactly in the same manner as Dr Herriot does. However, 1
would not have feasted on the delicacies sent by Mrs Pumphrey
for Tricki. This is unprofessional and unethical. I would have
sternly told her that pets were not to be given such things and
warned her that after Tricki goes back home, such an indulgence
would make him ill again.

w
I would have told her in detail the ill effects of giving wine or
Flo
brandy to pets. In fact, I would have given her a menu for Tricki

ee
with strict instructions that the dietary chart was to be followed
Fr
religiously. I would also have stressed on the need to give regular
for
ur
physical exercise to the pet. To sum up, I would not have minced
ks

words to tell the rich lady that she herself was to be blamed for
Yo
oo

her dog's ill health.

B
re

Q7. Do you think, this is a real-life episode or mere fiction? Or is it a

ou
ad

mixture of both? (Textual)

Y

James Herriot, the author of the episode "The Triumph of Surgery,"

nd
Re

is a renowned veterinary surgeon. During his professional career

Fi

he must have come across incidents where pets had fallen ill due
to over-feeding and pampering by their indulgent masters.
However, the surgeon is also a good author and has authored
quite a number of books. As an author, he must have been
tempted to add some spice to facts. The episode depicted in "The
Triumph of Surgery" is the outcome of one such real life episode
experienced by Doctor Herriot and blended with elements of
fiction. This blending does not dilute the factual aspect of the
story, instead it makes it a more interesting piece of reading. The
details about Tricki and his owner are too minute to be purely

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30 Literature Companion 10

fictitious. These are just an exaggerated presentation of reality to

make the incident an inviting story.
Thus, the story "The Triumph of Surgery" appears to be a mixture
of both fact and fiction.
Q8. 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 in general? (Textual)
(i) Had I been a member of the staff of Mrs Pumphrey's household, I
would have pleaded with her to be a little strict with Tricki's diet

w
and in the absence of the gardener would have volunteered to
Flo
give some extra physical exercise to the dog.

ee
Fr
(ii) As a neighbour, I would have tried to find out an authentic dietary
chart for pet dogs and would have presented it to Mrs Pumphrey,
for
ur
with the suggestion that she should cut down on his rich diet, not
ks
Yo

to over feed him and to arrange to give him plenty of physical

oo
B

exercise, too.
re

In general, as a member of the staff, and as a neighbour, I would

ou
ad

have felt pity for the helpless mute creature. His condition would
Y

have constantly pained me. I would have prayed for his owner to
nd
Re
Fi

get some good sense and allow the dog a normal life.
□ □□

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