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    1. A Triumph of Surgery - Class 10 - Footprints

    • May 8
    • 4 min read

    Updated: Jul 28

    A warm, semi-realistic illustration of a middle-aged male veterinarian in a white coat gently placing his hand on a sleepy, overweight Cavalier King Charles Spaniel lying on a green examination table. The scene is set in a softly sunlit golden-yellow room with a window showing a green tree outside, conveying care, calm, and recovery — representing a moment from the story “A Triumph of Surgery.”

    Author: James Herriot Genre: Autobiographical narrative / Humorous fiction Source: Footprints, CBSE Class 10

    Mind Map (Click on the panels to expand)

    Listen to a quick Hindi audio summary below for better understanding.

    Summary

    This story revolves around Tricki, a pampered pet dog belonging to Mrs. Pumphrey, a wealthy and overindulgent woman. Tricki is overfed and given rich, fatty foods like cream cakes and chocolates, which lead to his deteriorating health. He becomes lazy, listless, and overweight.

    Worried, Mrs. Pumphrey contacts Dr. Herriot, a kind-hearted veterinary surgeon. He immediately understands that Tricki’s illness is due to his luxurious lifestyle and lack of exercise, not a medical condition. To save the dog and give him proper care, Dr. Herriot convinces Mrs. Pumphrey to admit Tricki into his clinic, pretending it’s a necessary treatment.

    At the clinic, Tricki is given no food for two days—just water. Slowly, he begins to show interest in his surroundings. He starts mingling with other dogs, plays, and eats normally. Within a few days, Tricki regains his health and becomes an active, cheerful dog again.


    Mrs. Pumphrey, unaware of the real treatment, believes that her dog’s recovery is due to some miraculous medical procedure. She expresses her gratitude emotionally and calls it “a triumph of surgery.”

    👤 Character Sketches

    1. Dr. Herriot

    • A compassionate, wise, and humorous vet

    • Understands animals well

    • Uses intelligence and kindness instead of medicines

    • Values practicality over unnecessary emotion

    • Handles Mrs. Pumphrey’s drama calmly

    2. Mrs. Pumphrey

    • A rich and overly loving dog owner

    • Very emotional and dramatic

    • Believes pampering is love

    • Sends Tricki luxurious food even during treatment

    • Genuinely loves her dog but lacks understanding of real care

    3. Tricki

    • A small, pampered pet dog

    • Suffers from obesity due to overfeeding

    • Lacks energy and interest in life initially

    • Becomes active and healthy with simple care and exercise

    • Symbol of innocence and victim of misplaced love

    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Explanation

    Overindulgence

    Mrs. Pumphrey's excessive pampering harms Tricki.

    Practical Care

    True care often involves discipline, not indulgence.

    Irony

    The ‘surgery’ is just proper diet and exercise, yet Mrs. Pumphrey believes it was a medical miracle.

    Human-Animal Bond

    The emotional attachment between Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki is intense, though misdirected.

    Compassion

    Dr. Herriot shows true compassion—not through medicines but through understanding and wise actions.

    ✨ Literary Devices / Figures of Speech

    • Irony: No surgery is actually performed, yet the title is “A Triumph of Surgery.”

    • Hyperbole: Mrs. Pumphrey’s dramatic emotional outbursts and excessive worry.

    • Humour: The vet and his team enjoy the rich food sent by Mrs. Pumphrey, pretending it’s all for Tricki.

    • Symbolism:

      • Tricki = innocent victim of blind love

      • Surgery = common sense, disguised as professional treatment

    • Imagery: Descriptions of Tricki's appearance ("bloated sausage") and recovery create vivid pictures.

    • Dialogue: Used effectively to portray characters' personalities.

    📖 Title Justification

    "A Triumph of Surgery" is a satirical and ironic title. No real surgery takes place, but the successful recovery of Tricki through proper care, diet, and exercise is mistaken as a surgical miracle by Mrs. Pumphrey. The title mocks the idea of expensive medical procedures by highlighting the value of simple, logical care.

    ✅ One-Mark Question (Answer in one sentence)

    Q1. What was the real cause of Tricki's illness? Tricki fell ill because his mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey, overfed and pampered him with rich treats, leading to obesity and poor health.

    Q2. How did Dr. Herriot treat Tricki? Dr. Herriot treated Tricki by hospitalizing him, giving only water initially, followed by a simple diet and regular exercise with other dogs—without any medicine or surgery.

    Q3. How did Mrs. Pumphrey react to Tricki’s recovery? Mrs. Pumphrey was overjoyed and tearful, convinced that a miraculous “triumph of surgery” had cured her dog.

    Q4. What kind of a person was Mrs. Pumphrey? Mrs. Pumphrey was well-meaning but misguided—her excessive affection pampered Tricki to the point of harming his health.

    Q5. How does the story reflect humour and irony? The story humorously shows Dr. Herriot and his colleagues enjoying the treats sent for Tricki, while the irony lies in Mrs. Pumphrey attributing the dog’s recovery to a “triumph of surgery” when it was simply diet and exercise.

    ✅ Three-Mark Questions (Answer in 2–3 Sentences)

    Q1. Describe Tricki’s health and lifestyle before hospitalization.

    Tricki was severely overfed and lived a life of complete pampering. He was described as looking like a “bloated sausage,” with bloodshot eyes, a drooping tongue, and an inability to walk. His overdose of rich foods, skimpy exercise, and constant indulgence led to his poor health. 


    Q2. How did Tricki’s behavior and health change during his stay at the clinic?

    At the clinic, Tricki was placed on a strict regime of water-only followed by a simple diet and daily exercise with other dogs. Within days, he began regaining energy, became active, and started playing and scuffling with the other dogs. He eventually transformed into a “lithe, hard-muscled animal,” showing noticeable improvement in stamina and temperament.


    Q3. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey call Tricki’s recovery a “triumph of surgery”?

    Mrs. Pumphrey believed Mr. Herriot had performed some miraculous medical treatment. She called it a “triumph of surgery” because she misunderstood the simple dietary and exercise plan for advanced veterinary intervention. It highlights how we can mistake care and discipline for complex medical procedures. 

    🧠 Value-Based Question

    Q. What lesson does the story “A Triumph of Surgery” teach us about caring for others? The story teaches that real care is not always about giving more—it’s about giving what is truly needed. Love should be balanced with wisdom and responsibility. Overindulgence, even with good intentions, can do harm.


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