DAWN THE HIGHER SCHOOL & COLLEGE
SESSION: 2021-22
SUBJECT: ENGLISH
CLASS: X
Triumph of Surgery
By- James Herriot Book: Footprints
Introduction
This story is about Tricki, a dog who is the pet of a rich lady named Mrs. Pumphrey. She loves her dog
very much and is unable to refuse him anything he wants. Tricki, is fond of eating cream cakes and
chocolates. So one day when Mrs. Pumphrey is out with Tricki for a walk the narrator sees them and
stops to talk. While talking to Mrs. Pumphrey he realises that she has been overfeeding Tricki and also
had been giving him things that he shouldn’t eat due to which Tricki had started looking like a bloated
sausage. Soon Tricki got unwell and Mrs. Pumphrey has to call Mr. Herriot (narrator) for help. She does
not want to send him away but the only way suggested by Mr. Herriot is to get him hospitalised for 15
days. Then the story unfolds into how he gets well. Read the description to know more.
Summary
Tricki’s illness
The narrator of the story is Mr. Herriot. He is a veterinary surgeon. He was really worried about the dog.
Its name was Tricki. He was shocked to see it with its mistress. It had become hugely’fat. Its eyes had
become red. Its tongue came out from its jaws. It was in a state of disease.
Tricki’s mistress made Tricki ill
The mistress of the dog was Mrs. Pumphrey. She told Mr. Herriot that the dog seemed to have no
energy. So she gave it more malt and cod liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks. She also gave it some cream
cakes and chocolates despite Herriot’s refusal. It was a rich diet.
, Herriot’s warning to Mrs. Pumphrey
Herriot looked at the dog again. Its big trouble was that it had become greedy. It did not refuse food.
Herriot asked Mrs. Pumphrey if she had been giving the dog plenty of exercise. She said she had not.
Herriot warned her. If she didn’t cut its food and gave it more physical exercise, it would be really ill. She
said that he was right. But it was difficult for her.
Tricki to be in hospital
Within next few days Mrs. Pumphrey told Herriot that Tricki didn’t eat anything. It refused to eat even
its favourite dishes. It spent all its time lying panting. The narrator had made his plans in advance. He
suggested that Tricki should be hospitalised for about a fortnight. The lady almost became unconscious.
She was sure that it would die if he did not see it.
Tricki in hospital
The narrator took the dog in his car. Mrs. Pumphrey gave Tricki’s belongings like bed, cushions, toys,
various bowls, coats etc. At the hospital Tricki looked down at other dogs. They sniffed around it and
ignored it.
Tricki’s Treatment
The narrator kept an eye on Tricki for two days. He gave it plenty of water but no food. On the third day,
it started whimpering on seeing other dogs. It followed them down the garden. Later that day other
dogs had their food. When they had finished, Tricki walked round the bowls. He also licked them. It
meant he was hungry. It was given some food.
Tricki shows improvement
Tricki started to show progress. It was given no medicinal treatment. It ran about with the dogs all day. It
discovered the joy of being with other dogs. Meanwhile Mrs. Pumphrey continued ringing regularly. She
asked various questions about Tricki. But the narrator told her that the dog was out of danger.
When Tricki becomes all right
Mrs. Pumphrey started to bring round fresh eggs to build up Tricki’s strength. The narrator began giving
Tricki wine before and during the meal. The dog began to drink brandy also. Tricki now had one extra
egg in the morning. It had wine at noon and brandy in the evening. After a fortnight, the narrator rang
her up saying the dog was all right.
Mrs. Pumphrey comes to take Tricki home
Mrs. Pumphrey arrived at the narrator’s Surgery in a big car. She asked him if the dog was better. The
narrator told her that the dog was fine. He would bring it to her. When Tricki saw its mistress, it ran into
Mrs. Pumphrey’s lap. It began licking her face and barking.
Tricki’s cure—a triumph of Surgery
The narrator helped the driver to bring out Tricki’s various things. These were Tricki’s beds, toys,
cushions, coats and bowls. They had not been used. As the car moved away, Mrs. Pumphrey leaned out
SESSION: 2021-22
SUBJECT: ENGLISH
CLASS: X
Triumph of Surgery
By- James Herriot Book: Footprints
Introduction
This story is about Tricki, a dog who is the pet of a rich lady named Mrs. Pumphrey. She loves her dog
very much and is unable to refuse him anything he wants. Tricki, is fond of eating cream cakes and
chocolates. So one day when Mrs. Pumphrey is out with Tricki for a walk the narrator sees them and
stops to talk. While talking to Mrs. Pumphrey he realises that she has been overfeeding Tricki and also
had been giving him things that he shouldn’t eat due to which Tricki had started looking like a bloated
sausage. Soon Tricki got unwell and Mrs. Pumphrey has to call Mr. Herriot (narrator) for help. She does
not want to send him away but the only way suggested by Mr. Herriot is to get him hospitalised for 15
days. Then the story unfolds into how he gets well. Read the description to know more.
Summary
Tricki’s illness
The narrator of the story is Mr. Herriot. He is a veterinary surgeon. He was really worried about the dog.
Its name was Tricki. He was shocked to see it with its mistress. It had become hugely’fat. Its eyes had
become red. Its tongue came out from its jaws. It was in a state of disease.
Tricki’s mistress made Tricki ill
The mistress of the dog was Mrs. Pumphrey. She told Mr. Herriot that the dog seemed to have no
energy. So she gave it more malt and cod liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks. She also gave it some cream
cakes and chocolates despite Herriot’s refusal. It was a rich diet.
, Herriot’s warning to Mrs. Pumphrey
Herriot looked at the dog again. Its big trouble was that it had become greedy. It did not refuse food.
Herriot asked Mrs. Pumphrey if she had been giving the dog plenty of exercise. She said she had not.
Herriot warned her. If she didn’t cut its food and gave it more physical exercise, it would be really ill. She
said that he was right. But it was difficult for her.
Tricki to be in hospital
Within next few days Mrs. Pumphrey told Herriot that Tricki didn’t eat anything. It refused to eat even
its favourite dishes. It spent all its time lying panting. The narrator had made his plans in advance. He
suggested that Tricki should be hospitalised for about a fortnight. The lady almost became unconscious.
She was sure that it would die if he did not see it.
Tricki in hospital
The narrator took the dog in his car. Mrs. Pumphrey gave Tricki’s belongings like bed, cushions, toys,
various bowls, coats etc. At the hospital Tricki looked down at other dogs. They sniffed around it and
ignored it.
Tricki’s Treatment
The narrator kept an eye on Tricki for two days. He gave it plenty of water but no food. On the third day,
it started whimpering on seeing other dogs. It followed them down the garden. Later that day other
dogs had their food. When they had finished, Tricki walked round the bowls. He also licked them. It
meant he was hungry. It was given some food.
Tricki shows improvement
Tricki started to show progress. It was given no medicinal treatment. It ran about with the dogs all day. It
discovered the joy of being with other dogs. Meanwhile Mrs. Pumphrey continued ringing regularly. She
asked various questions about Tricki. But the narrator told her that the dog was out of danger.
When Tricki becomes all right
Mrs. Pumphrey started to bring round fresh eggs to build up Tricki’s strength. The narrator began giving
Tricki wine before and during the meal. The dog began to drink brandy also. Tricki now had one extra
egg in the morning. It had wine at noon and brandy in the evening. After a fortnight, the narrator rang
her up saying the dog was all right.
Mrs. Pumphrey comes to take Tricki home
Mrs. Pumphrey arrived at the narrator’s Surgery in a big car. She asked him if the dog was better. The
narrator told her that the dog was fine. He would bring it to her. When Tricki saw its mistress, it ran into
Mrs. Pumphrey’s lap. It began licking her face and barking.
Tricki’s cure—a triumph of Surgery
The narrator helped the driver to bring out Tricki’s various things. These were Tricki’s beds, toys,
cushions, coats and bowls. They had not been used. As the car moved away, Mrs. Pumphrey leaned out
