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a triumph of surgery summary

What happens when too much love becomes too much food, and a tiny dog turns into a “bloated sausage” that can hardly walk?

This chapter shows how overfeeding and soft love nearly ruin a pet’s health, and how simple care—rest, exercise, and routine—bring him back like magic. It feels dramatic, funny, and warm, with rich details, quick twists, and a happy end that makes the title “A Triumph of Surgery” ring in your ears.

You meet Mrs Pumphrey, a rich lady, worried because Tricki, her small dog, has become huge, with bloodshot eyes and a hanging tongue; she admits she gave him “malt,” “cod-liver oil,” Horlicks, cream cakes, and chocolates because “I can’t bear to refuse him,” and even less exercise since the gardener had lumbago, so no ring-throwing. Yes, she tries to help—but gives more treats, not less, and Tricki grows worse, listless, vomiting, panting on a rug, refusing even his favorite dishes. No, and when the vet, Mr Herriot, warns, “cut his food… very strict diet,” she finds it “so very difficult,” until the crisis comes and he decides: hospital for a fortnight. The house explodes into panic—maids pile his day bed, night bed, cushions, toys, rubber rings, three bowls, and a heap of little tweed coats, as if packing a prince; Herriot drives off with Tricki wrapped in a blanket, promising, “I think I know a cure for you.” At the surgery, the pack of dogs ignores him; he lies still, gets only water for two days, then on day three whimpers to join the yard. Yes, but the real test is food time: he first licks empty bowls, then elbows in for his own, and soon he’s rolling, being bowled over, squashed, racing all day, fighting “like a tiger” for his share, and even hunting rats at night—no medicines, just play and a clean routine. Meanwhile, Mrs Pumphrey rings a dozen times a day; hearing “convalescing” sparks a flood of gifts—first two dozen eggs at a time, then wine “to enrich his blood,” then brandy—the household lives like kings, laughing at the “possibilities,” yet Herriot won’t keep Tricki forever. After two weeks, a long black car arrives; Herriot finds Tricki lithe and hard-muscled, chest brushing the grass as he bounds with the pack. The climax hits: Tricki launches into his mistress’s lap, licking and barking wildly, while the unused beds, toys, coats, and bowls are carried back. Tears in her eyes, she cries, “Oh, Mr Herriot… This is a triumph of surgery!”—though the real cure was simple discipline, not knives.

Characters:

Mr Herriot: Calm, practical vet who uses simple diet, exercise, and routine to heal Tricki; firm yet kind.

Mrs Pumphrey: Rich, loving, overindulgent owner whose “treats” make Tricki sick; emotional and generous.

Tricki: Pampered little dog who turns obese, then recovers into a lively, strong, playful pet with the pack.

Tristan and the dogs: The feeding crew and friendly pack that push Tricki to eat right and run hard.

Theme / Moral:

True care isn’t endless treats; it’s the right food, routine, and firm love that keeps body and spirit healthy.

Overindulgence harms; balance heals, and simple habits can do what fancy things cannot.

a triumph of surgery Hindi summary

   आप मिलते हैं श्रीमती पम्प्री से, एक अमीर महिला, जो चिंतित हैं क्योंकि ट्रिकी, उनका छोटा कुत्ता, बहुत मोटा हो चुका है—लाल आँखें, लटकती जीभ; वह मानती हैं कि उन्होंने उसे “माल्ट,” “कॉड-लिवर ऑयल,” हॉर्लिक्स, क्रीम केक और चॉकलेट दीं क्योंकि “मैं उसे मना नहीं कर सकती,” और व्यायाम भी कम, क्योंकि माली को कमरदर्द था, तो गेंद फेंकना बंद। वह मदद करने की कोशिश करती हैं, लेकिन मिठाइयाँ घटाने के बजाय और बढ़ा देती हैं, और ट्रिकी का हाल बिगड़ता जाता है—कमज़ोर, उल्टी करता, फर्श पर हाँफता, यहाँ तक कि अपनी पसंदीदा चीज़ें भी नहीं खाता।

जब पशु-चिकित्सक श्री हैरियट चेतावनी देते हैं—“खाना कम करो… बहुत सख्त डाइट”—तो श्रीमती पम्प्री को यह “बहुत कठिन” लगता है। संकट आने पर डॉक्टर उसे दो हफ्तों के लिए अस्पताल ले जाने का निर्णय लेते हैं। घर में हड़कंप मच जाता है—नौकर ट्रिकी का दिन का बिस्तर, रात का बिस्तर, गद्दे, खिलौने, रबर की रिंग, तीन कटोरे और ढेर सारे छोटे कोट समेटकर ऐसे पैक करते हैं जैसे किसी राजकुमार को भेजा जा रहा हो। हैरियट उसे कंबल में लपेटकर ले जाते हैं और कहते हैं, “मुझे लगता है तुम्हारे लिए इलाज खोज लिया है।”

सर्जरी में दूसरे कुत्ते उसकी परवाह नहीं करते; वह चुपचाप पड़ा रहता है, पहले दो दिन सिर्फ़ पानी पाता है। तीसरे दिन वह आहट करता है कि आँगन में जाना है। और असली परीक्षा आती है खाने के समय—वह पहले खाली कटोरियाँ चाटता है, फिर अपना हिस्सा पाने के लिए धक्का देता है, और जल्दी ही वह लुढ़कता, लड़खड़ाता, दौड़ता, मारामारी करता, दिनभर खेलता और रात को चूहे पकड़ता है—बिना किसी दवा, बस खेल और सादगीभरी दिनचर्या।

इसी बीच श्रीमती पम्प्री दिन में दर्जन भर बार फ़ोन करती हैं; जैसे ही “स्वस्थ हो रहा है” सुनती हैं, तो उपहारों की बाढ़ ला देती हैं—पहले दो दर्जन अंडे, फिर “ख़ून बढ़ाने” के लिए वाइन, फिर ब्रांडी—डॉक्टर का घर राजा की तरह जीता है और इन संभावनाओं पर हँसता है। फिर भी, हैरियट ट्रिकी को हमेशा के लिए नहीं रख सकते।

दो हफ्ते बाद, एक लंबी काली कार आती है; हैरियट देखता है कि ट्रिकी दुबला-पतला, मांसपेशियों से भरा, और झुंड के साथ उछलता है, उसकी छाती घास को छू रही है। चरम क्षण—ट्रिकी अपनी मालकिन की गोद में कूद पड़ता है, खुशी से चाटता और भौंकता है, जबकि अनछुए बिस्तर, खिलौने, कोट और कटोरे वापस भेज दिए जाते हैं। आँसुओं से भरी आँखों के साथ वह पुकार उठती हैं—“ओह, श्री हैरियट… यह तो सचमुच सर्जरी की विजय है!”—हालाँकि असली इलाज साधारण अनुशासन था, न कि चाकू।

पात्र

श्री हैरियट: व्यावहारिक और दयालु पशु-चिकित्सक, जो दवा की बजाय व्यायाम औरसाधारण खान‑पान में विश्वास करते हैं।

श्रीमती पम्प्री: अमीर महिला, जो ट्रिकी से बहुत प्यार करती हैं लेकिन अति लाड़‑प्यार सेउसे बीमार बना देती हैं।

ट्रिकी: लाड़‑प्यार से बिगड़ा कुत्ता, जो बीमार पड़ता है लेकिन सही देखभाल से फिरचुस्त‑दुरुस्त हो जाता है।

अन्य कुत्ते: अस्पताल में साथी कुत्ते, जो खेल और प्रतियोगिता से ट्रिकी को फिर से सक्रियबनाते हैं।

विषय / शिक्षा

अति प्रेम और अति भोजन हानिकारक होते हैं।

असली देखभाल अनुशासन, संतुलन और साधारण जीवनशैली से होती है।

अच्छा स्वास्थ्य सही भोजन और व्यायाम से आता है, न कि तामझाम और अनावश्यक दुलारसे।

a triumph of surgery Keywords and Meaning

Tricki – overfed small dog who becomes ill and then recovers with routine care

Mrs Pumphrey – rich, overindulgent mistress who spoils Tricki with treats

Mr Herriot – practical veterinary narrator who cures with diet and exercise

Surgery – the vet’s clinic where Tricki is kept and recovers

Listless – low energy and inactive condition shown by Tricki

Malnutrition – mistaken reason Mrs Pumphrey assumes for Tricki’s weakness

Extras – rich add-ons like malt, cod-liver oil, Horlicks, cakes, chocolates

Lumbago – gardener’s back pain; reason for no ring-throwing exercise

Regime – strict diet and exercise plan advised by the vet

Convalescing – recovering after illness; triggers gifts from Mrs Pumphrey

Greyhound (Joe) – dog at the surgery that engulfs Tricki in the pack

Scrimmages – friendly rough-and-tumble play among the dogs

Extra bowl – sign of Tricki rejoining normal eating at feeding time

Eggs/Wine/Brandy – gifts meant “to enrich his blood,” enjoyed by the household

Chauffeur – driver of the long black car who brings/collects Tricki

Lithe – slim and flexible, Tricki’s fit condition at the end

Hard‑muscled – strong, toned physique of recovered Tricki

Tweed coat – symbol of pampering; one of many small coats

Ring‑throwing – exercise routine that stopped due to lumbago

Triumph – successful recovery attributed to “surgery” by Mrs Pumphrey

a triumph of surgery Important Phrases

“Like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner”

“His eyes, bloodshot and rheumy, stared straight ahead”

“I can’t bear to refuse him.”“You must harden your heart and keep him on a very strict diet.”

“Tricki was tottering along in his little tweed coat”

“Refused even his favourite dishes”

“I marched out to the car carrying the little dog wrapped in a blanket.”

“At the surgery, the household dogs surged round me.”

“lay motionless on the carpet”

“rolling slightly with his surplus fat”

“There was the usual headlong rush”

“licking casually inside one or two of them”

“an extra bowl was put out for him”

“joining in their friendly scrimmages”

“fighting like a tiger for his share at mealtimes”

“convalescing rapidly”

“to enrich Tricki’s blood”

“For a few nights the fine spirit was rolled around, inhaled and reverently drunk.”

“a lithe, hard‑muscled animal”

“This is a triumph of surgery!”

a triumph of surgery question answer

Text Based questions and answers

Q1. Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?

Answer:Mrs Pumphrey is worried because Tricki, her pet dog, has become very weak, listless, and has lost his energy. She notices that he is not moving around like before and thinks he is suffering from malnutrition. Her anxiety grows as she sees his health getting worse day by day. This shows her deep affection and concern for Tricki’s well-being, like how a parent worries for a child.​

Q2. What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?

Answer: Mrs Pumphrey tries to help Tricki by giving him extra food, such as malt, cod-liver oil, and Horlicks, believing it will make him stronger. However, she is not wise in this because overfeeding actually makes Tricki sicker and more inactive. Instead of helping, her actions cause more harm, showing that good intentions can sometimes lead to the wrong results if not guided by proper knowledge.​

Q3. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?

Answer:‘I’ in the story refers to the narrator, who is Mr. Herriot, a veterinary doctor. He is the one telling the story about Tricki and his treatment. As a caring and practical doctor, Mr. Herriot looks after Tricki and understands what is really needed for the dog’s health. His role reminds us that sometimes experts know best how to solve a problem.​

Text based questions and answers

Q1. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?

Answer:The narrator is not as rich as Tricki’s mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey. He lives a simple life and works hard as a veterinary doctor, while Mrs. Pumphrey is wealthy and can afford many luxuries for her pet. This contrast shows that happiness and kindness don’t depend on being rich; simple actions can make a big difference in life.​

Q2. How does he treat the dog?

Answer: The narrator treats Tricki with practical care and understanding. He does not give any medicine but puts Tricki on a strict diet and lets him play with other dogs. Tricki soon becomes active and healthy again. This method teaches that sometimes simple, natural solutions are best for health and happiness.​

Q3. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?

Answer: The narrator feels tempted to keep Tricki because the dog brings plenty of delicious food and treats from Mrs. Pumphrey, such as eggs and wine. The narrator and his staff enjoy these unexpected luxuries. This shows a humorous side to the story and reminds us to enjoy small joys, but always do what is right.​

Q4. Why does Mrs Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is “a triumph of surgery”?

Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey believes Tricki’s recovery is “a triumph of surgery” because she thinks only medical intervention could save him. In reality, it was the simple care and sensible treatment by the narrator that cured Tricki. Her words reflect her love for Tricki and show how people often overestimate complex solutions, while simple actions can have great results.​

Text based questions and answers

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?

Answer: The narrator, Mr. Herriot, is a kind and practical veterinary surgeon. He understands Tricki’s real problem and avoids giving unnecessary medicines. By controlling Tricki’s diet and letting him play, he helps the dog recover naturally. He is tactful as he handles Mrs. Pumphrey’s emotions gently and never blames her for overfeeding Tricki. His actions show true common sense and a caring heart. Such people are a blessing to those around them.​

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

Answer: Tricki was excited to see Mrs. Pumphrey again, showing affection and joy. However, he was also happy with his new friends and active life at the doctor’s place. If Mrs. Pumphrey learns to care for him properly and stops overfeeding, Tricki will stay healthy and cheerful. This situation teaches us that real love means giving what is actually needed, not just what feels good.​

Q3. Do you think this is a real-life episode, or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?

Answer: The story feels real because it shows believable characters, daily problems, and simple solutions based on care and understanding. It is likely a mixture of both real-life experience and a bit of fiction to make the story interesting. Such stories help us understand the importance of sensible love and practical care in everyday life.​

Text based questions and answers

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?

Answer: Such people may seem silly at first, but their actions can cause real harm, especially if they ignore advice. Mrs. Pumphrey’s overindulgence made Tricki very unhealthy. When people give too much or do not listen to experts, it can lead to problems for others, even if they mean well. It’s important to balance love with good sense to keep everyone safe and happy.​

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

Answer: Yes, there are parents who behave like Mrs. Pumphrey by pampering their children too much. They might give too many gifts or allow unhealthy habits, thinking it shows love. This can make children weak or dependent. Real care means setting the right limits and helping children grow strong and confident.​

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?

Answer: If I were a staff member, I would gently try to suggest better ways to care for Tricki and politely share my worries. If I were a neighbour, I might notice how much time Mrs. Pumphrey spends on her dog and hope she listens to good advice. Life in such a rich but lonely house might feel dull, but helping someone make better choices can give meaning to our role.​

Q4. What would you have done if you were in the narrator’s place?

Answer: If I were in the narrator’s place, I would have chosen the same practical approach—removing unhealthy food and letting Tricki exercise with other dogs. I would also reassure Mrs. Pumphrey kindly so she doesn’t feel blamed. A caring and honest attitude helps people trust you and learn what’s best for their loved ones.​

a triumph of surgery Grammar

• Do as directed.

1) Fill in the blanks with the correct verb forms. 

a) Mrs Pumphrey ____ (hasten) to explain that Tricki ____ (be) listless and she ____ (give) him malt and cod-liver oil.

b) The narrator ____ (pull) up his car when he ____ (see) Tricki in the street with his mistress.

c) By the end of the second day, Tricki ____ (begin) to show interest in his surroundings.

d) The household dogs ____ (surge) round the narrator when he ____ (arrive) at the surgery.

2)Change the voice (Active ↔ Passive) as indicated. Do as directed.

a) The maids brought his day bed, night bed, cushions, toys and rubber rings. (Change into Passive)

b) The narrator had made a bed for Tricki in a warm loose box. (Change into Passive)

c) An extra bowl was put out for Tricki. (Change into Active)

d) Mrs Pumphrey leaned out of the window. (Change into Passive)

3)Convert the following into Indirect Speech. Do as directed.

a) “He was so listless, Mr Herriot,” said Mrs Pumphrey.

b) “If you don’t cut his food right down, he is going to be really ill,” warned the narrator.

c) “Oh, Mr Herriot, do tell me the truth. Is he really better?” asked Mrs Pumphrey. (Report the entire question)

d) “Poor old lad, you haven’t a kick in you, but I think I know a cure for you,” said the narrator.

4)Fill in the blanks with suitable articles/prepositions. Do as directed.

a) I was shocked at his appearance; he had become ____ bloated sausage with a leg at ____ each corner.

b) He lay motionless ____ the carpet while the dogs sniffed ____ him.

c) The chauffeur drew up ____ the surgery and opened the door ____ the mistress.

d) The narrator carried Tricki ____ his arms ____ the passage to the front of the house.

5)Choose the correct modal to complete each sentence. Do as directed.

a) Mrs Pumphrey said she ____ (could/can/may) not bear to refuse him cream cakes and chocolates.

b) The narrator told her she ____ (must/should/might) keep him on a very strict diet.

c) Tricki ____ (could/must/should) jostle his way to the extra bowl once he recovered.

d) The narrator thought he ____ (might/must/can) be tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest.

6) Sentence transformation (Negative ↔ Affirmative/Question formation). Do as directed.

a) He had never been known to refuse food. (Change to affirmative without changing meaning)

b) The other dogs decided he was an uninteresting object. (Form a yes/no question)

c) Mrs Pumphrey was not wise in giving him extras. (Change to affirmative using an appropriate word)

d) The narrator was certain that hospitalising Tricki was the only way. (Change to negative without changing meaning)

7) Combine the sentences using the instructions. Do as directed.

a) He had surplus fat. He rolled slightly. (Combine using an adverbial clause)

b) Mrs Pumphrey was distraught. Tricki refused even his favourite dishes. (Combine using ‘because’)

c) The bottles of wine began to arrive. The household realised the possibilities. (Combine using a participle)

d) The staff brought beds, toys and bowls. None of them were used. (Combine using ‘which’)

8) Editing (Error spotting). One error in each line; write the incorrect and the corrected word pair. Do as directed.

a) The narrator decide to take Tricki without delay.

b) He give him no food for two days but plenty of water.

c) At the third day he began to whimper on hearing the dogs.

d) He become an accepted member of the gang.

9) Omission (Missing words). One word is missing in each line; indicate the position and the inserted word. Do as directed.

a) The chauffeur opened the door and I could just make ____ the figure of Mrs Pumphrey.

b) He was keeping up ____ with the pack, stretching out in great bounds.

c) Lunch became a ceremonial occasion ____ two glasses of wine before the meal.

d) The narrator helped the chauffeur ____ bring out the beds, toys, cushions and bowls.

10) Gap filling   Do as direct.

Tricki lay motionless at the surgery while the household dogs sniffed him. For two days, he was given only ____ (a) ____ but no food. On the third day, he began to ____ (b) ____ when he heard the dogs in the yard. Later, at feeding time, he first licked the ____ (c) ____ bowls, and next day an ____ (d) ____ bowl was put out for him. From then on, his progress was ____ (e) ____ as he ran about with the dogs and fought like a tiger at ____ (f) ____.

11) Tenses (Complete with suitable forms). Do as directed.

a) By the time Mrs Pumphrey’s car ____ (arrive), Tricki ____ (transform) into a lithe, hard‑muscled animal.

b) When the narrator ____ (open) the door, Tricki ____ (trot) out and was engulfed by the dogs.

c) The narrator ____ (feel) tempted to keep Tricki, but he ____ (know) Mrs Pumphrey was suffering.

d) The staff ____ (rush) in and out bringing his things as the narrator ____ (carry) the dog to the car.

12) Voice change from the chapter’s actions. Do as directed.

a) They rolled him over and inspected him thoroughly. (Change into Passive)

b) The narrator phoned and told her that Tricki had recovered. (Change into Passive)

c) Two eggs were brought daily to build up Tricki’s strength. (Change into Active)

d) The fine spirit was reverently drunk for a few nights. (Change into Active)

13) Reported speech (Commands/Requests/Exclamations). Do as directed.

a) “Fetch him. I’ll go,” said Mrs Pumphrey to the chauffeur. (Report as a command)

b) “Oh! How can I ever thank you!” cried Mrs Pumphrey. (Report as an exclamatory statement)

c) “Turn his cushions regularly,” Mrs Pumphrey insisted. (Report as a reported command)

d) “Is he really better?” she asked anxiously. (Report as an interrogative statement)

14) Articles and prepositions in context. Do as directed.

a) He patted ____ head and Tricki made ____ brave effort to wag his tail.

b) The narrator walked ____ the house ____ the garden to fetch Tricki.

c) He stood ____ the corner of the drive and looked ____ the mirror.

d) The car moved ____ and Mrs Pumphrey leaned ____ of the window.

15) Sentence transformation (Degree/change of form). Do as directed.

a) Tricki was as happy as he had ever been in his life. (Change to comparative degree)

b) The staff were too busy to load all the stuff into the car. (Remove ‘too’)

c) Keeping Tricki as a permanent guest was tempting. (Change to a negative statement with ‘not easy to resist’)

d) It was the only way to save him. (Change to ‘No other way…’)

Here are the answers corresponding to the “Do as directed” exercise set:

Ans1

 a) hastened; was; had given

b) had pulled; saw

c) had begun/began; (both acceptable per context)

d) surged; arrived

Ans2

a) His day bed, night bed, cushions, toys and rubber rings were brought by the maids.

b) A bed had been made for Tricki by the narrator in a warm loose box.

c) They put out an extra bowl for Tricki.

d) The window was leaned out of by Mrs Pumphrey.

Ans 3

a) Mrs Pumphrey said that he was so listless.

b) The narrator warned that if she didn’t cut his food right down, he was going to be really ill.

c) Mrs Pumphrey asked Mr Herriot to tell her the truth and asked whether he was really better.

d) The narrator told the dog that he hadn’t a kick in him but he thought he knew a cure for him.

Ans 4

a) a; each

b) on; at

c) outside; for

d) in; along

Ans 5

a) could

b) must

c) could

d) might

Ans 6

a) He was always known to accept food.

b) Did the other dogs decide he was an uninteresting object?

c) Mrs Pumphrey was unwise in giving him extras.

d) The narrator was not uncertain that hospitalising Tricki was the only way.

Ans 7

a) Because he had surplus fat, he rolled slightly.

b) Mrs Pumphrey was distraught because Tricki refused even his favourite dishes.

c) With the bottles of wine beginning to arrive, the household realised the possibilities.

d) The staff brought beds, toys and bowls which were not used.

Ans 8

a) decide → decided

b) give → gave

c) at → on

d) become → became

Ans 9

a) make ____ out

b) up ____ well

c) occasion ____ with

d) chauffeur ____ to

Ans 10

a) water

b) whimper

c) shining

d) extra

e) rapid

f) mealtimes

Ans 11

a) arrived; had been transformed

b) opened; trotted

c) felt; knew

d) rushed; was carrying

Ans 12

a) He was rolled over and thoroughly inspected by them.

b) Mrs Pumphrey was phoned by the narrator and told that Tricki had recovered.

c) They brought two eggs daily to build up Tricki’s strength.

d) They reverently drank the fine spirit for a few nights.

Ans 13 

a) Mrs Pumphrey ordered the chauffeur to fetch him and said she would go.

b) Mrs Pumphrey exclaimed in gratitude that she could never thank him enough.

c) Mrs Pumphrey insisted that his cushions be turned regularly.

d) She anxiously asked whether he was really better.

Ans 14 

a) his; a

b) through; into

c) at; into

d) away; out

Ans 15

a) Tricki was happier than he had ever been in his life.

b) The staff were so busy that they could not load all the stuff into the car.

c) Keeping Tricki as a permanent guest was not easy to resist.

d) No other way was there to save him.

a triumph of surgery Short answers (30–40 words)

Q1.Why was Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?

Ans.Tricki had become “hugely fat,” “listless,” and “refused even his favourite dishes,” with bouts of vomiting and panting on a rug, so she feared he was “really ill” and needed urgent care.

Q2.What advice did Mr Herriot give to Mrs Pumphrey?

Ans.He said, “You must harden your heart and keep him on a very strict diet,” and increase exercise, or Tricki was “going to be really ill.”

Q3.Why did the narrator hospitalise Tricki “without delay”?

Ans.Tricki would “eat nothing,” had “bouts of vomiting,” lay “panting” and didn’t want to do anything; taking him away was “the only way to save him.”

Q4.How was Tricki treated at the surgery in the first two days?

Ans.He was kept under watch with “no food but plenty of water,” and lay “motionless on the carpet,” ignored by the pack.

Q5. What showed Tricki’s recovery at feeding time?

Ans.After licking “shining bowls,” “an extra bowl was put out for him,” and he was seen “jostling his way towards it.”

Q6. What did Mrs Pumphrey send to the surgery and why?

Ans.She sent “fresh eggs,” “bottles of wine,” and “brandy” “to enrich Tricki’s blood,” believing it would build his strength.

Q7.Describe Tricki after two weeks at the surgery.

Ans.He was “a lithe, hard‑muscled animal,” “keeping up well with the pack,” “stretching out in great bounds,” with his chest “almost brushing the ground.”

a triumph of surgery Long answers (100–120 words)

• Character sketch of Mrs Pumphrey

Mrs Pumphrey is rich, loving, and overindulgent; she “can’t bear to refuse him,” gives “some little extras,” and keeps a wardrobe of “little tweed coats,” which makes Tricki “hugely fat.”

She misreads “listless” as “malnutrition,” sends “fresh eggs,” “wine,” and “brandy” “to enrich Tricki’s blood,” showing affection but poor judgement.

She is emotional, “ringing a dozen times a day,” in tears when Tricki leaves and returns, finally crying, “This is a triumph of surgery!”

She causes Tricki’s illness through pampering, yet her generosity and sincere love are clear, making her a well‑meaning but foolishly indulgent owner.

• Theme: Overindulgence vs true care

The story shows that pampering harms while discipline heals: Tricki becomes “like a bloated sausage,” “listless,” and refuses “even his favourite dishes” due to “extras” and little exercise.

At the surgery, there is “no medicinal treatment,” only “no food but plenty of water,” exercise with the pack, and an “extra bowl,” leading to rapid recovery.

He joins “friendly scrimmages,” “fighting like a tiger” at mealtimes, and turns into “a lithe, hard‑muscled animal,” proving that routine and restraint restore health.

The title’s irony—“a triumph of surgery”—means the clinic’s simple regime, not an operation, cured him.

a triumph of surgery Extract based questions and answers

Extract: “He had become hugely fat, like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner.”

Q1.Who is described here?

Ans.Tricki, Mrs Pumphrey’s small dog.

Q2.What made him reach this condition?

Ans.Overfeeding with “some little extras,” sweets like cream cakes and chocolates, and little exercise due to “lumbago.”

Q3. What effect did this have on him?

Ans.He was “listless,” vomited, panted on a rug, and refused food.

Extract: “You must harden your heart and keep him on a very strict diet.”

Q1. Who says this and to whom?

Ans.Mr Herriot says this to Mrs Pumphrey.

Q2. Why is this advice necessary?

Ans.Without it, Tricki was “going to be really ill” because of overfeeding and no proper exercise.

Q3. What action followed later?

Ans.Hospitalisation, “no food but plenty of water,” and recovery through play with the dogs.

Extract: “From then on, his progress was rapid… fighting like a tiger for his share at mealtimes.”

Q1. What change is shown here?

Ans.Tricki goes from lying “motionless” to active, competitive eating and play.

Q2. How did the other dogs help?

Ans.They “rolled him over,” “inspected him,” and drew him into “friendly scrimmages,” building strength.

Q3. What is the final outcome?

Ans.He becomes “a lithe, hard‑muscled animal” and returns home healthy.

Extract: “Oh, Mr Herriot… This is a triumph of surgery!”

Q1. Why does Mrs Pumphrey say this?

Ans.She sees Tricki leap into her lap, lively and strong, and thanks the doctor.

Q2. Was any operation done?

Ans.No; the cure was diet, water, and exercise at the surgery (clinic), not an operation.

Q3. What does this reveal about her?

Ans.She is grateful and loving but naive about real treatment methods.

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