A Triumph of Surgery

Recap: Tricki, a small, pampered dog, is overfed by his wealthy mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey, leading him to become hugely fat and seriously ill. The narrator, a veterinary surgeon named Mr. Herriot, is worried about Tricki’s condition and advises Mrs. Pumphrey to cut down his food and give him more exercise. Despite Mrs. Pumphrey’s initial attempts, Tricki’s condition worsens, and he refuses to eat and experiences vomiting. Mr. Herriot decides to hospitalize Tricki for a fortnight to save him, much to Mrs. Pumphrey’s distress. At the surgery, Tricki receives no medicinal treatment but is given plenty of water and allowed to interact with other dogs, which helps him recover rapidly. Mrs. Pumphrey, overjoyed by Tricki’s transformation into a healthy, active dog, calls his recovery “a triumph of surgery”.

Detailed Notes with Subtopics:

• Mrs. Pumphrey’s Worry and Tricki’s Condition
  • Mrs. Pumphrey is worried about Tricki because he appears listless and has no energy.
  • She believes he is suffering from malnutrition and gives him extra food like malt, cod-liver oil, and Horlicks between meals to build him up.
  • The narrator, Mr. Herriot, is shocked by Tricki’s appearance, describing him as “hugely fat, like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner”.
  • Tricki’s eyes are bloodshot and rheumy, and his tongue lolls from his jaws.
  • Mrs. Pumphrey admits she couldn’t cut down on sweet things like cream cakes and chocolates because Tricki loves them.
  • Mr. Herriot identifies Tricki’s only fault as greed.
  • Mrs. Pumphrey also mentions that Hodgkin, the gardener, has lumbago, so Tricki hasn’t had much ring-throwing exercise.
• Narrator’s Advice and Mrs. Pumphrey’s Struggle
  • Mr. Herriot strongly advises Mrs. Pumphrey to cut down Tricki’s food and give him more exercise, emphasizing a strict diet.
  • Mrs. Pumphrey agrees but finds it very difficult to implement the new regime.
  • The narrator observes Tricki tottering in his tweed coat, struggling in his harness, and anticipates a call from Mrs. Pumphrey soon.
• Tricki’s Worsening Condition and Hospitalization
  • Within a few days, Mrs. Pumphrey calls, distraught, reporting that Tricki eats nothing, refuses his favorite dishes, has bouts of vomiting, and spends all his time panting on a rug.
  • Mr. Herriot had already planned to get Tricki out of the house.
  • He suggests hospitalizing Tricki for about a fortnight for observation.
  • Mrs. Pumphrey is devastated, believing Tricki would die if he didn’t see her every day.
  • The narrator takes a firm stance, stating it’s the only way to save Tricki, and takes him without delay, despite Mrs. Pumphrey’s wailings.
• Arrival at the Surgery and Initial Treatment
  • The entire staff at Mrs. Pumphrey’s house is roused, bringing out Tricki’s numerous belongings like beds, cushions, toys, and bowls, none of which fit in the car.
  • Mrs. Pumphrey throws an armful of coats through the car window as Mr. Herriot drives away, with everyone in tears.
  • At the surgery, Tricki is ignored by the other dogs, who find him uninteresting.
  • The narrator makes a bed for Tricki and gives him no food but plenty of water for two days.
  • On the third day, Tricki starts showing interest in his surroundings and whimpers when he hears the other dogs.
• Tricki’s Recovery and Interaction with Other Dogs
  • When released, Tricki is immediately engulfed by Joe, the greyhound, and his friends.
  • He joins them in the garden, rolling slightly due to his surplus fat.
  • During feeding time, Tricki observes the other dogs eating quickly to avoid competition.
  • The next day, an extra bowl is put out for Tricki, and he jostles his way towards it.
  • His progress becomes rapid, with no medicinal treatment.
  • He runs about with other dogs, engaging in scrimmages, and enjoys being bowled over, tramped on, and squashed.
  • Tricki becomes an accepted member of the pack, fighting for his share at mealtimes and hunting rats.
• Mrs. Pumphrey’s Anxieties and Contributions
  • Mrs. Pumphrey constantly calls for updates, asking about Tricki’s cushions and coats.
  • The narrator assures her that Tricki is out of danger and convalescing rapidly.
  • Upon hearing “convalescing,” Mrs. Pumphrey starts sending fresh eggs, wine, and brandy to build up Tricki’s strength and enrich his blood.
  • These provisions are enjoyed by the narrator and his partners.
• Tricki’s Return Home
  • The narrator is tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest due to the luxuries.
  • After a fortnight, he informs Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki has recovered.
  • Mrs. Pumphrey arrives in a gleaming black car with a chauffeur.
  • She is anxious about Tricki’s condition.
  • Tricki, now a “lithe, hard-muscled animal,” leaps into Mrs. Pumphrey’s lap, swarming over her and licking her face.
  • The unused beds, toys, cushions, coats, and bowls are loaded back into the car.
  • Mrs. Pumphrey, with tears in her eyes, thanks Mr. Herriot, calling Tricki’s recovery “a triumph of surgery”.

Important Vocabulary:

• pampered: excessively indulged or treated with extreme care
• overfed: given too much food
• listless: lacking energy and enthusiasm
• malnutrition: lack of proper nutrition
• relent: to give in, to soften in feeling or temper
• greed: intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food
• lumbago: muscular pain in the lower part of the back (lumbar region)
• regime: a prescribed course of exercise and diet
• tottering: moving in a shaky or unsteady way
• distraught: extremely worried
• bouts: short periods of intense activity of a specified kind
• swooned: fainted
• pine: to suffer a mental and physical decline, especially because of a broken heart
• surgery: a place where a doctor, a dentist or a veterinary surgeon treats patients
• motionless: without movement
• engulfed: (here) surrounded or overwhelmed by
• scrimmages: rough or confused struggles
• convalescing: recovering from an illness
• constitution: the way in which a person or thing is made up so as to constitute a whole
• inhaled: breathed in
• reverently: with deep and solemn respect
• compelled: forced or obliged to do something
• gleaming: shining brightly
• lithe: flexible

Grammar Focus: The text implicitly focuses on:

• Descriptive Adjectives: Used extensively to describe Tricki’s appearance (e.g., “hugely fat,” “bloated,” “bloodshot and rheumy,” “silky little object,” “shaggy crew,” “lithe, hard-muscled animal”).
• Adverbs of Manner: Used to describe actions (e.g., “hastened to explain,” “wrung her hands,” “marched out,” “trotted out,” “rolling slightly,” “licking casually,” “convalescing rapidly,” “reverently drunk,” “struggled on,” “hovered anxiously”).
• Tenses: The story is primarily narrated in the past tense, detailing events as they happened (e.g., “I was really worried,” “He had become,” “Mrs Pumphrey hastened to explain,” “I suggested,” “I made up a bed”).
• Direct and Indirect Speech: Both are used, with direct quotes for dialogue (e.g., “Oh I will, Mr Herriot. I’m sure you are right…”) and indirect speech for reporting what was said or thought (e.g., “I thought it wouldn’t be long before I heard from Mrs Pumphrey”).

Phrases/Idioms:

• pulled up my car: stopped my car
• bloated sausage with a leg at each corner: a vivid description of something extremely fat and swollen
• eyes, bloodshot and rheumy: eyes that are red from irritation and watery with discharge
• tongue lolled from his jaws: tongue hanging out loosely from his mouth
• to build him up: to make him stronger or healthier
• cut down on: to reduce the amount of something
• can’t bear to refuse him: unable to tolerate or stand refusing him
• tackle a meal: to eat a meal with determination or enthusiasm
• down with lumbago: suffering from muscular pain in the lower back
• harden your heart: to become unsympathetic or determined despite feelings of pity
• wrung her hands: clasped and twisted her hands, indicating distress or anxiety
• put the new regime into practice: to start implementing the new diet and exercise plan
• tottering along: walking in a shaky or unsteady way
• drooping in his harness: hanging his head or body limply while in his harness
• expected call came: the anticipated phone call arrived
• bouts of vomiting: short periods of throwing up
• made my plans in advance: prepared my intentions beforehand
• almost swooned: almost fainted
• pine and die: to become very weak and likely to die due to longing or sadness
• took a firm line: adopted a strict or determined approach
• wailings: prolonged, high-pitched cries of grief or pain
• gasping on the seat: breathing with difficulty on the seat
• haven’t a kick in you: (informal) having no energy or spirit left
• know a cure for you: have a remedy or solution for your illness
• surged round me: moved quickly and forcefully around me
• lay motionless: remained without movement
• uninteresting object: something that is not engaging or exciting
• kept an eye on him: watched him carefully
• show some interest in his surroundings: to become aware and responsive to the environment
• began to whimper: started to make low, feeble sounds of pain or distress
• headlong rush: a rapid and uncontrolled movement
• fell behind the others: was slower than the others
• liable to have some competition: likely to face rivalry
• jostling his way towards it: pushing and shoving his way towards it
• joining in their friendly scrimmages: participating in their rough and tumble play
• bowled over, tramped on and squashed: knocked down, stepped on and crushed
• accepted member of the gang: recognized as part of the group
• fighting like a tiger: fighting very fiercely
• hovered anxiously in the background: remained close by, worried and observing
• latest bulletins: the most recent updates or news
• dodged the questions: avoided answering the questions
• out of danger: no longer in peril or at risk
• began to dawn on the household: started to become clear or understood by the household
• enrich Tricki’s blood: to improve the quality or strength of Tricki’s blood
• ceremonial occasion: a formal or ritualistic event
• put a final edge on Tricki’s constitution: to give a finishing touch or enhance Tricki’s overall health and well-being
• rolled around, inhaled and reverently drunk: describes how the brandy was appreciated slowly and with respect
• days of deep content: days filled with great satisfaction and happiness
• temptation to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest: a strong urge to retain Tricki as a long-term resident
• felt compelled to phone: felt forced or obliged to make a phone call
• awaiting collection: waiting to be picked up
• gleaming black metal: refers to the shiny black car
• drew up outside the surgery: arrived and stopped outside the veterinary clinic
• almost lost in the interior: almost hidden inside the car
• hands were tightly clasped: hands were held together firmly
• lips trembled: lips shook slightly, usually from emotion
• hurtling round and round the lawn: moving very fast in circles on the grass
• ears flapping, tail waving: ears moving loosely and tail moving from side to side, indicating happiness
• transformed into a lithe, hard-muscled animal: changed into a flexible, strongly muscled animal
• keeping up well with the pack: managing to stay at the same pace as the group of dogs
• stretching out in great bounds: moving with long, leaping strides
• took off from my arms in a tremendous leap: jumped out of my arms with a huge jump
• sailed into Mrs Pumphrey’s lap: moved smoothly and quickly into Mrs. Pumphrey’s lap
• swarmed over her: moved around her in a large group, or in this case, all over her

One Word Substitutions:

• sausage: finely minced meat stuffed into long cylindrical cases and divided into small lengths by twisting or tying
• rheumy: a watery discharge from a mucous membrane especially of the nose or eyes
• listless: lacking energy and enthusiasm
• lumbago: muscular pain in the lower part of the back (lumbar region)
• regime: prescribed course of exercise and diet
• distraught: extremely worried
• surgery: a place where a doctor, a dentist or a veterinary surgeon treats patients
• scrimmage: rough or confused struggle
• convalescing: recovering from an illness
• lithe: flexible