A Triumph of Surgery

Mrs Pumphrey was worried and upset about Tricki’s health because he was not eating anything. He refused to eat his favourite dishes and had bouts of vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug, panting, and didn’t show any interest in going for daily walks either.

Initially, Mrs Pumphrey thought Tricki was suffering from malnutrition, so she started giving him extras like malt, cod-liver oil, and Horlicks. She also indulged him with cream cakes and chocolates.

No, she was not wise in this. With all this pampering, Tricki became hugely fat, like a bloated sausage. Her actions worsened his condition, making him lazy and bulky, which eventually forced her to consult Dr. Herriot.

In the story, ‘I’ refers to Dr James Herriot, a veterinary surgeon.

No, the narrator (Dr Herriot) is not as rich as Tricki’s mistress, Mrs Pumphrey. This is evident from the fact that he provides a warm loose box for Tricki to sleep in, while Tricki comes from a home with day beds, night beds, cushions, toys, and rubber rings. The doctor could not afford an entire staff of maids and caretakers like Mrs Pumphrey.

Dr Herriot treated Tricki like an overweight and lazy dog who needed exercise with a controlled diet.

• He cut down his food intake and kept him under strict observation.
• He gave him plenty of water but no food for the first two days.
• He allowed Tricki to play with other dogs to improve his physical health.
• He did not give any medicinal treatment but focused on natural recovery.

Mrs Pumphrey started sending fresh eggs, wine, and brandy to build up Tricki’s strength. The narrator and his partners enjoyed these luxuries (eggs for breakfast, wine at lunch, brandy at dinner) which were actually meant for the dog. Hence, he was tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest to enjoy this luxurious inflow of food.

Mrs Pumphrey thought Tricki was seriously ill and needed surgery. When she saw him after two weeks, he had transformed into a flexible, hard-muscled animal who could leap and run. She believed this amazing recovery was a medical miracle, not realizing it was just due to diet and exercise. Thus, she called it “a triumph of surgery”.

The narrator is a wise, compassionate, and practical doctor. He understood that Tricki was not ill but simply overfed. He is tactful because he convinced Mrs Pumphrey to hospitalize Tricki by playing on her anxiety, knowing it was the only way to save the dog. He is full of common sense because he cured the dog without medicine, using only diet control and exercise.

Yes, Tricki was happy to return home as he loved his mistress dearly. He was overjoyed to see her. However, given Mrs Pumphrey’s nature, she might start pampering him again. Unless she is careful about his diet and exercise as prescribed by Dr Herriot, Tricki might face health issues again.

The story seems to be a blend of fiction and real-life incidents. It is common for rich people to overfeed pets out of love. However, a doctor going out of his way to lie to the owner (about surgery) to save a pet and enjoying the wine/brandy sent for the dog adds a humorous, fictional touch.

Mrs Pumphrey’s silly actions of overfeeding Tricki had a harmful reaction on her pet’s health. She worsened his condition by feeding him fatty foods like cream cakes and chocolates. Rich people like her often think they are helping their pets, but their foolish indulgence can cause serious harm, as seen with Tricki’s obesity.

Yes, there are parents like Mrs Pumphrey who spoil their children by over-indulging and pampering them. They often overfeed children despite knowing the ill effects of overeating on health. It is imperative that parents like Mrs Pumphrey maintain a healthy lifestyle for their family members and pets.

• (i) As a staff member: I would not have followed Mrs Pumphrey’s orders to feed Tricki blindly. I would have fed him according to the vet’s advice and ensured he got enough physical exercise to stay healthy.
• (ii) As a neighbour: I would have advised her to maintain a strict diet for Tricki and engage him in physical activities like playing or running. If his condition deteriorated, I would have asked her to consult a vet immediately.

If I were in the narrator’s place, I would have treated Tricki with similar love and compassion. I would have been a little strict while advising Mrs Pumphrey to put Tricki on a balanced diet. Besides, I would have also not consumed Tricki’s share of eggs, wine, and brandy, but rather resisted the temptation to keep him as a permanent guest.