NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 - A Triumph of Surgery

Read and Find Out (Page 1)

Q1: Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey was very concerned and unhappy about Tricki's health because he wasn't eating anything. He wouldn't eat his favorite foods and kept vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug, breathing heavily, and wasn't interested in going for his usual walks either.

Q2: What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?
Ans: At first, Mrs. Pumphrey thought Tricki was lacking energy because he seemed very tired. She believed he might be malnourished, so she began giving him extra food between meals, like malt, cod-liver oil, and a bowl of Horlicks at night to help him sleep. She also treated him to cream cakes and chocolates unnecessarily and didn't ensure he got enough exercise. Because of all this pampering, Tricki became very overweight, looking like a bloated sausage with legs. Overfeeding him was not a smart choice, as it made his condition worse, leaving him even lazier and heavier. However, seeing how bad things had gotten, Mrs. Pumphrey became very worried and sought help from a veterinary surgeon, Dr. Herriot, to improve Tricki's health.

Q3: Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
Ans: In this story, ‘I’ refers to the veterinary surgeon, Mr Herriot.

Read and Find Out (Page 3)

Q1: Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress ?
Ans: There are parts of the story that show Dr. Herriot wasn't as wealthy as Tricki's owner, Mrs. Pumphrey. This is clear because the narrator couldn't offer the same luxurious lifestyle that Tricki had, like a cozy bed filled with favorite cushions, toys, and rubber rings, along with different bowls for each meal of the day. Instead, Dr. Herriot made a simple bed for Tricki in a warm, loose box near where the other dogs slept. Unlike Mrs. Pumphrey, the doctor also couldn't afford a whole staff of maids and caretakers just to look after and maintain Tricki's well-being.

Q2: How does he treat the dog?
Ans: Dr. Herriot didn't spoil Tricki with unnecessary treats. Instead, he treated him like an overweight and lazy dog who needed more exercise and a controlled diet. He reduced Tricki's food intake and kept a close watch on him for the first few days. Over time, he gradually increased Tricki's food with a balanced diet and allowed him to engage in physical activities to boost his health. Slowly, Tricki's health began to improve, and he didn't need any medicine to recover from his illness.

Q3: Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey started bringing fresh eggs, two dozen at a time, to help build up Tricki’s strength. Soon, she even sent bottles of wine and brandy. The narrator, along with his colleagues, enjoyed having two eggs each for breakfast, along with the wine and brandy that were meant for Tricki. Those were days of great satisfaction, starting with an extra egg in the morning, followed by wine at midday, and ending the day luxuriously by the fire with brandy. The temptation was strong for Dr. Herriot to keep Tricki as a permanent guest just to continue enjoying this steady supply of luxury food items.

Q4: Why does Mrs Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is “A Triumph of Surgery”?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey believed Tricki was seriously ill when she consulted Dr. Herriot, but within two weeks, her pet had fully recovered. She was thrilled to see that he had transformed into a fit and strong dog. When Dr. Herriot returned Tricki to her, the dog made a huge leap and landed in her lap. His recovery without any medicine was remarkable, and Mrs. Pumphrey, grateful and happy, called it "a triumph of surgery" to show her appreciation to the doctor.

Think About it (Page 6)

Q1: What kind of a person do you think the narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is? Would you say he is tactful as well as full of common sense?
Ans: The narrator, a veterinary surgeon, was a very wise and tactful doctor. He handled Tricki properly with compassion as he understood that the dog was not suffering from any illness. From the dog’s lazy condition, he could make out that he had become bulky due to overfeeding by his mistress. Thus, he did not perform any surgery on him, rather cured him by altering his diet and engaging him in physical activities. Under the doctor’s supervision, Tricki recovered from his illness within a span of two weeks.
Yes, Dr. Herriot was a tactful person as he could convince Mrs Pumphrey to hospitalise Tricki for a surgery. He knew exactly how to treat her pet effectively and make him a lively animal. Upon the dog’s recovery, he informed Mrs Pumphrey to come and collect Tricki even though he was tempted to keep her pet as a permanent guest for the luxurious inflow of expensive food items sent by his mistress from time to time.

Q2: Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?
Ans:

• Yes, Tricki was very happy to go home. Tricki was also happy at the surgery. When the dog was brought into the surgery, it was ill. 
• But in spite of the dog got cured in two days without any medication (a medicine used for medical treatment). The proper diet and regular exercise helped a lot in its speedy recovery. The dog regained (recover) its best health and was no longer listless (lack of enthusiasm).
• Now, I think the same pampering (kindness and too much attention) will start again. Mrs. Pumphrey will take excessive care of the dog. There is no doubt it was her love, but excess of anything is harmful.
  

Q3: Do you think this is a real-life episode or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?
Ans: The story appears to mix fiction with real-life events. It's common for wealthy people to overfeed their pets out of love and affection, just like Mrs. Pumphrey did. We see how her pampering led to Tricki overeating, becoming lazy, and gaining too much weight. Similarly, it's not unusual for wealthy people to give their pets a luxurious lifestyle and spoil them often. However, it seems less likely that a veterinary doctor like Dr. Herriot would go so far as to lie about a surgery to protect a pet from unnecessary indulgences.

Talk About it (Page 7)

Q1: This episode describes the silly behaviour of a rich woman who is foolishly indulgent , perhaps because she is lonely. Do you think such people are merely silly, or can their actions cause harm to others?

Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey's misguided actions of overfeeding Tricki had a negative impact on her pet's health. She made Tricki eat too much and gave him fatty foods, thinking it was an expression of love and care. This led to his condition worsening, making him so lazy and overweight that he couldn't even go for short walks. Wealthy people like Mrs. Pumphrey often spoil their pets with excessive food, believing it will improve their health, but this can actually have harmful effects.

Q2: Do you think there are also parents like Mrs. Pumphrey?

Ans: Yes, some parents, like Mrs. Pumphrey, spoil their children by over-indulging and pampering them. They may overfeed their children or pets, even though they know the negative effects of overeating on their health. It is important for parents like Mrs. Pumphrey to monitor and maintain a healthy lifestyle for their family members and pets to avoid such issues.

Q3: What would you have done if you were:
(i) a member of the staff in Mrs Pumphrey’s household,
(ii) a neighbour? 
What would your life have been like, in general?
Ans:
(i) If I were a member of the staff in her household I would have not followed Mrs Pumphrey’s orders to feed Tricki blindly. In fact, I would have fed him according to the vet’s advice and ensured that he gets enough physical exercise which helps him to stay active and healthy. I would have also skipped sending the unnecessary stuff like toys, cushions etc to the hospital.
My life would have been a very busy one, as I would have had to take care of the household chores and meet Tricki’s demands on time.
(ii) If I were Mrs Pumphrey’s neighbour, I would have advised her to maintain a strict diet and engage Tricki in physical activities such as playing, running or going for walks. If his condition would have deteriorated, I would have asked her to consult a veterinary doctor and follow his advice strictly to keep her pet’s health in check. I would have also been supportive and kind in such a critical situation when Tricki was supposed to be hospitalised.
My life as Mrs Pumphrey’s neighbour would have been full of surprises and gifts as Mrs Pumphrey was a loving lady.

Q4: What would you have done if you were in the narrator’s place?
Ans: If I were in the narrator’s place, I would have treated Tricki with a similar amount of compassion and love. I would have been equally caring as Mr James Herriot towards Tricki. I would have just been a little more stern(strict) while advising Mrs Pumphrey to put Tricki on a strict diet knowing her love for the pet. I would have also not consumed Tricki’s share of eggs, wine and brandy sent by Mrs Pumphrey and resisted the temptation of keeping Tricki as my permanent guest in my hospital.