1. A Triumph of Surgery
By Mr. James Herriot
Created by:
Mrs. Mousmi Majumdar
2. Author’s Introduction
James Alfred Wight (3 October 1916 – 23
February 1995) known by the pen
name James Herriot, was a British
veterinary surgeon and writer. He worked
as a veterinarian in the Yorkshire
Dales for almost fifty years. He used this
experience to write short stories, novels
and other formats of books set in
England about animals and their owners.
There have been multiple television and
film adaptations of Herriot's books,
including the 1975 film All Creatures
Great and Small and the BBC television
series of the same name, which ran for a
total of 90 episodes.
3. Introduction to the Chapter
The chapter is based on the cases Mr. James Herriot had
witnessed during his career as a veterinary doctor. He, himself, is
the narrator of the story. However, the story is not directly linked
to any real life case he had dealt with.
Mrs. Pumphrey is a rich but lonely woman. Tricky is her much
pampered pet dog. She has a habit of overfeeding the dog with
all sorts of lavish food items ranging from eggs to cakes,
chocolates, wine and brandy. As a result, he falls terribly ill. Mrs.
Pumphrey asks the narrator, who is a vet , to treat Tricky. What
way does the narrator adopt to treat Tricky? Does Tricky recover?
What is Mrs. Pumphrey’s reaction?
4. Detailed Summary
1. Mr. Herriot’s chance meeting with Mrs. Pumphrey and
Tricky on the streets.
- Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricky are taking a walk
- Mr. Herriot, who was passing by, stops his car
-Asks Mrs. Pumphrey the reason for Tricky’s sickly appearance( hugely fat
like a bloated sausage, eyes bloodshot and rheumy, tongue lolled from the
jaws )
-She has been feeding him extra food other than regular meals(malt, cod-
liver oil, horlicks, cream cakes, chocolates, etc.) to build up his strength
- No exercise for Tricky other than small walks in the evening sometimes
- Mr. Herriot severely warns her and asks her to stop overfeeding Tricky
- Tricky’s appearance
5. Detailed Summary
2. Mrs. Pumphrey calls Mr. Herriot
- Tricky doesn’t eat
- refuses his favorite food
-doesn’t move
-bouts of vomiting; pants
3. Mr. Herriot takes away Tricky
- he had made plans in advance
- suggested Tricky be hospitalized for a fortnight
- took him away amidst tears and wailings
- staff tried to bring Tricky’s items; doctor didn’t take anything
6. Detailed Summary
4. Tricky comes to the Surgery
- dull, inactive
- no medicines; not given any food for three days; plenty of water
- household dogs at surgery inspect and observe him
- third day, Tricky starts playing with other dogs
- fourth day, food is given to Tricky which he eats hungrily
- rapid recovery fourth day onwards
-healthy food at regular intervals and plenty of exercise(running, playing
with the other dogs) helps him recover
5. Mrs. Pumphrey calls to know about Tricky
- asks about his health eating habit, cushions, coats;
- Mr. Herriot informs her about the rapid recovery of Tricky
7. Detailed Summary
6. Mrs. Pumphrey sends food and drinks
-sends eggs, wine and brandy for Tricky
- Mr. Herriot and staff consume it
7. Tricky goes home
- Mr. Herriot asks Mrs. Pumphrey to take him away
- Tricky jumps to his mistress’s lap
- Mrs. Pumphrey is shocked to see the transformation
- calls it ‘a triumph of surgery ’!!!
8. Vocabulary
1. Sausage- prepared minced meat packed in casings
2. Bloated- overfilled; having grown excessively large
3. Bloodshot (eyes) – redness of the eyes
4. Rheumy – a watery discharge from the eyes or nose
5. Listless – dull, inactive
6. Malt – grain(such as barley) softened by steeping in
water, allowed to germinate, and used especially in
brewing and distilling
7. Cod- liver oil – Oil made from the liver of cod fish; rich
source of Vitamins A and D
8. Relent – to stop resisting; give in; stop being firm on a
decision
9. Lumbago – lower back pain
10.Regime- a regular pattern of actions
1.
4.
7.
9. Vocabulary
11. Tweed – a rough woolen fabric used for making coats
12. Tottering – walking unsteadily
13. Harness(here) – the belt and chain of the dog
14. drooping- to hang or incline downwards
15. Distraught – excessively sad; mental conflict or pain
16. Bout(here) – attack; something happening again and
again
17. Pant – to take long breaths from mouth when exhausted
18. Swoon – faint
19.pine – to wait for something or want something badly,
especially when it’s unattainable
20. roused- awakened
21. Surge – rise and fall of soemthing
22. Engulfed – surrounded completely
11.
10. Vocabulary
11.
23. Greyhound – a breed of dog
24. Thoroughly – detailed
25. Surplus – extra; more than necessary
26. Scrimmages – rough fights
27. Bowled over – push surprisingly
28. tramped- to step on someone or something heavily
29. Squashed – squeeze or press
30. Shaggy- furry
31. Dodged – avoided
32. Convalescing – recovering
33. reverently- with respect; worshipful
34. Sustain – keep up; prolong; continue
35. Hurtling – to move rapidly
36. Transform – change completely
37. Lithe – flexible
38. Bounds – series of jumps
39. Tremendous – huge
40. Startled - surprised
11. Characters
1. Tricky
- excessively pampered dog
- dachshund breed
- gluttonous
- sickly due to his habit of overeating
2. Mrs. Pumphrey
- rich
- lonely
- mistress of Tricky
- tender- hearted
- habit of over-pampering and overfeeding her dog
- foolishly indulgent
- ignorant
12. Characters
3. Mr. Herriot
- a veterinary doctor
- competent and tactful
- man of common sense and practical approach
- kind and gentle
13. Theme of the Story
1. Balanced diet and exercise is the cure for every health
ailment: We all know that unhealthy lifestyle, excessive and
unhealthy eating without having any exercise at all is the
reason for all health related issues. Doctors all over the
world suggest having a balanced diet along with plenty of
exercise for maintaining a healthy body and mind. This sits
true not only with human beings but with all the living
beings.
Tricky mistress makes him lead an unhealthy lifestyle,
overfeeding him with rich food and drinks not meant for
dogs. This makes Tricky fall extremely ill. The moment he
starts taking a balanced diet and plenty of exercise in the
surgery, he starts feeling better and recovers quickly.
14. Theme of the Story
2. Common sense is not so common: Common sense is
uncommon. Common Sense of the doctor saves the dog.
Mr. Herriot knows that Tricky doesn’t need medicines,
injections or a surgery.All he needs is a balanced diet and
plenty of exercise. This is exactly what cures Tricky.
On the other hand, Tricky’s mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey is
foolishly indulgent and a woman without common sense.
Her lack of common sense had made Tricky suffer badly
and by the look of things , we assume she’s going to do the
same once she reaches home with the fully recovered
Tricky.
15. Irony in the title
The title of the story ‘A Triumph of Surgery ’ is indeed ironical.
The title has been taken from the remark Mrs. Pumphrey makes at the end of
the chapter after seeing her dog fully cured.
Mrs. Pumphrey was startled to see the transformation in her dog. At the
same time, she had no idea how the doctor had managed to cure her dog.
The doctor also offered no explanation regarding the method of treatment he
had adopted. Hence, she thought that the doctor must have performed a
surgery on the dog. She believed it to be ‘a triumph of surgery’ whereas it
was a triumph of the doctor’s common sense, presence of mind, goodwill
and kind nature.
The title is ironical because although it indicates towards surgery, there is
actually no surgery involved in the entire story. The story is all about physical
wellness and balance in lifestyle but the title talks otherwise.
16. Is the story a Satire?
Satire is the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to
expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the
context of contemporary politics and other topical issues, ideally
with the intent of shaming individuals, corporations,
government, or society itself into improvement.
The writer has subtly ridiculed the ways of rich people whose
wealth overpower their capacity to think rationally and make
them do stupid things .
Mrs. Pumphrey loves to pamper her dog and indulges in a lavish
display of wealth. As a result she ends up harming her own dog.
This story is certainly satirical as it exposes the ridiculous ways of
rich people and their foolishly indulgent ways due to which they
sometimes end up harming others.
