A Triumph of Surgery Solutions and Questions & Answers

Content Structure

• 1. About the author – James Herriot
• 2. Summary of the poem A Triumph of Surgery
• 3. Word meanings
• 4. NCERT Solutions
  • 4A. Think about it
  • 4B. Talk about it
• 5. Extra Questions and Answers of the poem A Triumph of Surgery
  • 5A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
  • 5B. Fill in the blanks
  • 5C. True and false
  • 5D. One-sentence questions and answers
  • 5E. Short Questions and Answers
  • 5F. Long Questions and Answers

1. About the Author – James Herriot

2. Summary of the poem A Triumph of Surgery

The story begins when Mrs. Pumphrey, a wealthy woman, takes her pet dog Tricki out for a walk. A nearby veterinary doctor, Mr. Herriot, who knows Mrs. Pumphrey, is shocked to see Tricki because the dog looks like a bloated sausage with a leg at each end due to being overfed. Mr. Herriot advises Mrs. Pumphrey to stop giving Tricki rich and unhealthy foods, but she cannot refuse him anything because of her excessive love and affection. Soon, Tricki falls seriously ill, and Mr. Herriot is called to examine him. Realizing that Tricki needs proper care and discipline, he decides to take the dog to his surgery, although Mrs. Pumphrey is very reluctant to part with her beloved pet and almost faints at the thought. At the surgery, Tricki is given a bed, but during the first two days, he hardly moves and refuses to eat. By the second day, he begins to look around and lets out a small whimper, and on the third day, he wants to go outside. Once taken out, he starts playing with the other dogs, mixes freely with them, and even licks their food bowls clean. From then on, his health improves rapidly, and he becomes active and energetic, even fighting with the other dogs for food. When Mrs. Pumphrey hears that Tricki is recovering, she starts sending eggs for him, believing that he needs extra nourishment, but Mr. Herriot and his assistants enjoy them for breakfast. Later, she sends bottles of wine to improve Tricki’s blood, which Mr. Herriot and his companions also consume, enjoying a few glasses before and during lunch. When Mrs. Pumphrey finally sends bottles of brandy, Mr. Herriot jokingly thinks that he would not mind having Tricki as a permanent guest at the surgery. For several days, he happily enjoys the extra eggs, wine, and brandy, but eventually he realizes that Tricki has completely recovered and should return home. He telephones Mrs. Pumphrey, who has been anxiously waiting for news, and Tricki is delighted to see his mistress again and jumps into the car. Overjoyed and grateful, Mrs. Pumphrey tells Mr. Herriot that she can never thank him enough and says that the surgery has been a great success because Tricki has fully recovered and returned to his healthy and cheerful self.

3. Word meanings

Word	Meaning
Veterinary Surgeon	A doctor who treats animals
Bloated	Swollen or unnaturally enlarged
Reluctant	Unwilling or hesitant to do something
Whimper	A soft cry expressing pain, fear, or sadness
Discipline	Training to follow rules and maintain self-control
Grateful	Feeling thankful and appreciative
Whirl	To move quickly in a circular motion
Regain	To get back something that was lost
Veterinary	Related to the medical care of animals
Indulgent	Being too generous or lenient with someone
Frail	Weak and delicate
Sensible	Showing good judgment and practicality
Compassion	Sympathy and concern for others
Appetite	Hunger or desire for food

4. NCERT Solutions

4A. Think about it

1. 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?
Ans: Yes, the narrator, Mr. Herriot, is a kind, patient, practical, and intelligent veterinary surgeon. He truly loves animals and always wants what is best for them. When he sees that Tricki has become sick because of overfeeding and lack of exercise, he immediately understands the real problem. Mr. Herriot is also tactful because he does not directly blame Mrs. Pumphrey for spoiling her dog. He knows that she loves Tricki very much and may feel hurt if he criticizes her. Instead, he politely tells her that Tricki needs treatment at the surgery. This allows him to keep Tricki away from the rich food and unhealthy lifestyle. He is full of common sense because he treats Tricki without using medicines or surgery. He simply gives the dog a balanced diet, regular exercise, and the company of other dogs. His practical method works perfectly, and Tricki becomes healthy and active again. His wisdom, kindness, and calm behaviour make him an excellent veterinary doctor.

2. Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?
Ans: Yes, Tricki was very happy to go home. As soon as he saw Mrs. Pumphrey, he jumped into her lap, licked her face, and barked with excitement. His joyful behaviour clearly shows how much he loved his mistress and had missed her during his stay at the surgery. However, there is a chance that Mrs. Pumphrey may start spoiling him again because she loves him deeply. She may once again give him rich food, chocolates, cakes, and many treats. If this happens, Tricki may become fat and unhealthy again. Hopefully, Mrs. Pumphrey has learned an important lesson from this experience. She should now give Tricki healthy food, regular exercise, and proper care instead of too many treats. If she follows Mr. Herriot’s advice, Tricki will remain healthy, active, and happy for a long time.

3. Do you think this is a real-life episode, or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?
Ans: This story is mainly based on a real-life experience. James Herriot was a famous veterinary surgeon, and many of his stories come from incidents that happened during his work with animals and their owners. However, some parts of the story may have been made more interesting by adding humour and imagination. For example, Mrs. Pumphrey’s habit of giving Tricki expensive food, wine, and other special treats is described in a funny and exaggerated way to entertain readers. Therefore, the story is best understood as a mixture of reality and fiction. It is based on real events but includes humorous details to make the story enjoyable while also teaching an important lesson about proper pet care.

4B. Talk about it

1. 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?
Ans: People like Mrs. Pumphrey are not simply silly. Their actions, even though they are done with love, can cause serious harm. Mrs. Pumphrey loved Tricki so much that she gave him too much food, chocolates, cream cakes, and other rich meals. She believed she was caring for him, but she actually made him ill. When people ignore good advice and continue unhealthy habits, they can harm not only others but also themselves. Parents who always satisfy every wish of their children may also create bad habits. Therefore, love should always be balanced with care, discipline, and responsibility. True affection means doing what is best for someone, not simply giving them everything they want.

2. Do you think there are also parents like Mrs Pumphrey?
Ans: Yes, many parents can be like Mrs. Pumphrey. They love their children deeply and sometimes become overprotective. They may give them too many sweets, expensive gifts, mobile phones, or allow them to avoid responsibilities because they want to see them happy. Although such parents have good intentions, too much care can make children lazy, dependent, and less disciplined. Children also need healthy habits, regular exercise, good manners, and responsibility to grow into confident and responsible adults. Parents should show love by guiding and encouraging their children instead of fulfilling every wish. Balanced care helps children become healthy, independent, and successful in life.

3. 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?

(i) If I were a member of the staff in Mrs. Pumphrey’s household

Ans: If I were a member of the household staff, I would respectfully try to explain to Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki needed a healthy diet and regular exercise instead of rich food. I would follow the doctor’s advice carefully and make sure Tricki received proper care every day. Working in such a house would probably be comfortable because Mrs. Pumphrey was wealthy and generous. However, it might also be difficult because she was very emotional and always wanted everyone to treat Tricki like a human child. I would need to be patient, polite, and careful while doing my duties.

(ii) If I were a neighbour
Ans: If I were Mrs. Pumphrey’s neighbour, I would politely advise her not to overfeed Tricki and encourage her to take him for regular walks. If she ignored my advice, I would still remain friendly and hope that she would eventually understand her mistake. Life as her neighbour would probably be peaceful but sometimes amusing because of the unusual attention she gave to Tricki. Watching her treat the dog like a family member would often be surprising, but I would always wish for Tricki’s good health.

4. What would you have done if you were in the narrator’s place?
Ans: If I were in the narrator’s place, I would have done almost the same thing as Mr. Herriot. I would take Tricki to the veterinary surgery and keep him away from unhealthy food. I would provide him with simple meals, fresh water, regular exercise, and the company of other dogs. I would also explain to Mrs. Pumphrey in a gentle and respectful manner that overfeeding and too much pampering were the real causes of Tricki’s illness. Instead of blaming her, I would educate her about proper pet care. After Tricki recovered, I would advise Mrs. Pumphrey to continue giving him a balanced diet, daily exercise, and regular medical check-ups. This would help Tricki remain healthy and prevent him from becoming ill again.

5. Extra Questions and Answers of the poem A Triumph of Surgery

5A. Multiple-choice questions and answers

1. What was Mr Herriot’s profession?
a) Teacher
b) Surgeon
c) Veterinary surgeon
d) Farmer

Ans: (c) Veterinary surgeon

2. Why was Tricki brought to the surgery?
a) For vaccination
b) For grooming
c) Because he had become seriously ill
d) For an operation

Ans: (c) Because he had become seriously ill.

3. On which day did Tricki start showing improvement?
a) First day
b) Second day
c) Third day
d) Seventh day

Ans: (c) Third day

4. What helped Tricki recover?
a) Expensive medicines
b) Surgery
c) Proper diet and exercise
d) Injections

Ans: (c) Proper diet and exercise.

5. What did Mrs Pumphrey send first for Tricki’s recovery?
a) Chocolates
b) Eggs
c) Biscuits
d) Meat

Ans: (b) Eggs

6. Who ate the eggs sent for Tricki?
a) Tricki alone
b) Mrs Pumphrey
c) Mr Herriot and his staff
d) The other dogs

Ans: (c) Mr Herriot and his staff.

7. What did Mrs Pumphrey send after the eggs?
a) Milk
b) Juice
c) Wine
d) Soup

Ans: (c) Wine

8. Which drink did Mrs Pumphrey send later for Tricki?
a) Tea
b) Coffee
c) Lemon juice
d) Brandy

Ans: (d) Brandy

9. How did Tricki react on seeing Mrs Pumphrey again?
a) He ignored her.
b) He barked angrily.
c) He jumped into the car happily.
d) He ran away.

Ans: (c) He jumped into the car happily.

10. The story teaches us that:
a) Pets should be given expensive food.
b) Love means fulfilling every wish.
c) Excessive pampering can be harmful.
d) Medicines can solve every problem.

Ans: (c) Excessive pampering can be harmful.

11. The tone of the story is mainly:
a) Tragic
b) Humorous and affectionate
c) Mysterious
d) Suspenseful

Ans: (b) Humorous and affectionate.

12. What was the real cause of Tricki’s illness?
a) A dangerous disease
b) Lack of exercise and overfeeding
c) Poisoning
d) Old age

Ans: (b) Lack of exercise and overfeeding.

13. Which message does the chapter convey?
a) Wealth guarantees happiness.
b) True care requires wisdom and discipline.
c) Pets should always stay indoors.
d) Doctors can cure all diseases with surgery.

Ans: (b) True care requires wisdom and discipline.

5B. Fill in the blanks

1. Tricki was the pet dog of ____________. (Mrs Pumphrey) 
2. Mr Herriot was a ____________ surgeon. (veterinary) 
3. Mr Herriot advised Mrs Pumphrey to cut down Tricki’s ____________. (food) 
4. Mrs Pumphrey gave Tricki extra ____________ and cod-liver oil. (malt) 
5. She also gave him ____________ to improve his health. (Horlicks) 
6. Mrs Pumphrey sent fresh ____________ for Tricki’s recovery. (eggs) 
7. Mr Herriot and his assistants ate the eggs for ____________. (breakfast) 
8. Mrs Pumphrey later sent bottles of ____________. (wine) 
9. Mr Herriot jokingly thought of keeping Tricki as a permanent ____________. (guest) 
10. Mrs Pumphrey had excessive ____________ for Tricki. (affection) 
11. Tricki became ill because of overfeeding and lack of ____________. (exercise) 
12. Mr Herriot cured Tricki without using any ____________. (medicines) 
13. Tricki became active, energetic, and full of ____________. (life) 
14. Mrs Pumphrey believed that Tricki’s recovery was a triumph of ____________. (surgery) 

5C. True or false

1. Tricki was Mrs Pumphrey’s pet dog. (True) 
2. Mr Herriot was a human surgeon. (False) 
3. Mrs Pumphrey encouraged Tricki to exercise regularly. (False) 
4. Mrs Pumphrey happily agreed to send Tricki to the surgery. (False) 
5. Mrs Pumphrey sent eggs for Tricki’s recovery. (True) 
6. Mr Herriot and his assistants ate the eggs sent for Tricki. (True) 
7. Mrs Pumphrey later sent bottles of wine for Tricki. (True) 
8. Mr Herriot threw away the wine sent by Mrs Pumphrey. (False) 
9. Mrs Pumphrey also sent bottles of brandy. (True) 
10. Tricki was unhappy to see Mrs Pumphrey again. (False) 
11. Mrs Pumphrey believed that Tricki’s recovery was a triumph of surgery. (True) 
12. Mr Herriot was a sensible and compassionate veterinary surgeon. (True) 
13. The story suggests that excessive pampering can be harmful. (True) 
14. Mrs Pumphrey’s love for Tricki was balanced and practical from the beginning. (False) 
15. The chapter has elements of humour and warmth. (True) 

5D. One-sentence questions and answers

1. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey call Dr. Herriot?
Ans: She called the doctor because her dog Tricki was vomiting, panting, and refusing to eat or walk.

2. How did Dr. Herriot help Tricki get better?
Ans: The doctor cured Tricki without medicine by giving him only water at first, cutting back his food, and letting him play with other dogs.

3. Why did the other dogs ignore Tricki at first?
Ans: The other dogs ignored Tricki because he was too weak and lazy to play with them.

4. What were the servants doing when Tricki left for the hospital?
Ans: The servants were busy packing all of Tricki’s beds, toys, and bowls into the doctor’s car.

5. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey spoil Tricki so much?
Ans: She spoiled Tricki with expensive food and comforts because she loved him like her own child.

6. What worried the doctor about Tricki?
Ans: The doctor was worried because Tricki was extremely fat and his owner would not stop feeding him junk food.

7. What did Mrs. Pumphrey think when Tricki stopped playing?
Ans: She mistakenly thought Tricki was weak from starvation, so she worried he was seriously ill.

8. Did Mrs. Pumphrey listen to the doctor’s advice?
Ans: She completely ignored the doctor’s advice to cut back on sweets and make Tricki exercise.

9. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey call the doctor in a panic?
Ans: She panicked and called the doctor because Tricki was vomiting and refused to eat his favorite foods.

10. How did the doctor cure Tricki?
Ans: The doctor cured Tricki simply by giving him plenty of water, a normal diet, and daily exercise with the other dogs.

11. What did Tricki look like?
Ans: Tricki was a small, overly fat dog with red, watery eyes who looked very unhealthy.

12. What illness did Mrs. Pumphrey think Tricki had?
Ans: She thought he was weak from not eating enough, so she fed him even more heavy foods like malt and oil.

13. What was really wrong with Tricki?
Ans: Tricki’s only real problem was that he was heavily overfed and never exercised.

14. When did the other dogs finally accept Tricki?
Ans: The other dogs accepted him into their group when he finally had the energy to run and play games with them.

15. Why did Tricki’s looks shock the doctor?
Ans: The doctor was shocked because Tricki looked like a bloated sausage with red eyes and his tongue hanging out.

16. Why did Tricki’s health worry the doctor?
Ans: He worried because Tricki’s extreme weight and lack of exercise were putting the dog’s life in danger.

17. What extra foods did Mrs. Pumphrey feed Tricki?
Ans: She tried to make him stronger by feeding him rich things like malt, cod-liver oil, cream cakes, and chocolates.

18. Why was the doctor so strict with Mrs. Pumphrey?
Ans: He had to be strict to make her understand that overfeeding was actually killing her dog.

19. How did Mrs. Pumphrey react to the hospital plan?
Ans: She was terribly upset and almost fainted, but she agreed because it was the only way to cure him.

20. What was Tricki’s treatment at the clinic like?
Ans: The doctor simply kept him in a warm bed and gave him only water for two days without any medicine.

21. What did Mrs. Pumphrey do when she heard Tricki was recovering?
Ans: She was so happy he was getting better that she started sending fresh eggs and wine to help him build strength.

5E. Short Questions and Answers

1. How can we say that Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich woman?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey was very wealthy. She had servants and maids to take care of her home and pet. Tricki had his own room, clothes, toys, and special food. She spent a lot of money on him, which shows that she belonged to a rich family.

2. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey call the doctor?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey became worried because Tricki had stopped eating. He was vomiting frequently, lying on the rug all day, panting heavily, and refusing to go for walks. Seeing his condition, she called Dr. Herriot for help.

3. How did Dr. Herriot treat Tricki?
Ans: Dr. Herriot reduced Tricki’s food and made him exercise regularly. He gave him only water for the first two days and no medicine at all. He allowed Tricki to play with other dogs, which helped him recover quickly.

4. Why was Dr. Herriot sure that Tricki would soon become seriously ill?
Ans: Tricki had become very fat and inactive. He was not eating, vomiting frequently, and moving unsteadily. Dr. Herriot knew that if his diet was not controlled and he did not exercise, his health would worsen.

5. What advice did Dr. Herriot give Mrs. Pumphrey? Did she follow it?
Ans: Dr. Herriot advised her to reduce Tricki’s intake of sweets and give him regular exercise. However, Mrs. Pumphrey ignored his advice. She continued feeding him cakes and chocolates and made excuses for not exercising him.

6. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey make an urgent call to Dr. Herriot?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey became extremely worried because Tricki stopped eating altogether. He refused even his favourite foods, vomited repeatedly, and remained inactive all day. This forced her to call Dr. Herriot immediately.

7. What was the “cure” that Dr. Herriot talked about?
Ans: Dr. Herriot’s cure was very simple and involved no medicine at all. For the first two days, he gave Tricki plenty of water but no food. After that, he strictly controlled Tricki’s diet and let him run around freely with the other dogs. This natural routine of proper diet and vigorous exercise was the only “cure” Tricki needed to fully recover.

8. Why did the dogs at the surgery consider Tricki an “uninteresting object”?
Ans: Tricki first arrived at the clinic, he was heavily overweight, sick, and very weak. He just lay motionless on the carpet. When the pack of dogs came close to sniff and inspect him, Tricki did not react or show any interest in playing. Because he was so unresponsive and dull, the other dogs quickly found him boring and walked away.

9. How did Tricki become a member of the gang?
Ans: Tricki’s diet was controlled, he slowly regained his energy. After a few days of resting, he started showing interest in his surroundings and began running around with the clinic dogs. He happily joined their daily games, enjoyed friendly wrestling matches, and eagerly competed for his share of food, finally becoming an accepted and active member of the gang.

10. Describe Tricki.
Ans: Tricki was a hugely pampered, overfed small dog owned by the wealthy Mrs. Pumphrey. Because of her excessive indulgence, he had become incredibly fat, looking like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner. He was extremely lazy, barely able to walk. His eyes were bloodshot and rheumy, and his tongue hung loosely from his jaws, giving him a very dull, lifeless, and unhealthy appearance.

11. What was Tricki’s actual illness?
Ans: Tricki was not suffering from any medical disease or physical illness at all. His actual problem was sheer greed and severe obesity caused by intense overfeeding. Mrs. Pumphrey constantly stuffed him with rich foods, and combined with a total lack of physical exercise, his body simply gave out. He became sluggish, lethargic, and sick purely due to this unhealthy lifestyle.

12. Why was Dr. Herriot shocked by Tricki’s appearance?
Ans: Dr. Herriot was genuinely shocked because Tricki had become monstrously fat, closely resembling a bloated sausage with a tiny leg at each corner. The dog looked severely unhealthy and devoid of energy. His eyes were bloodshot, rheumy, and stared straight ahead, while his tongue hung loosely from his jaws. This extreme physical deterioration alarmed the experienced veterinarian.

13. Why was Dr. Herriot deeply worried about Tricki?
Ans: Dr. Herriot was deeply worried because he could see that Tricki’s extreme obesity and lethargy were life-threatening. He knew Mrs. Pumphrey was incapable of refusing the dog’s demands for rich food and sweets. Without regular exercise and strict portion control, Dr. Herriot feared that Tricki would soon suffer a severe medical collapse and realized urgent intervention was needed.

14. Describe Tricki’s gradual improvement at the surgery.
Ans: On the first day, Tricki lay motionless on the rug. By the second day, he started showing a bit of interest in his surroundings. On the third day, he began to whimper upon hearing the other dogs and trotted out to join them. From then on, his progress was rapid. He regained his appetite and spent his days vigorously playing with the pack.

15. How did the word “convalescing” affect Mrs. Pumphrey?
Ans: The word “convalescing” worked like magic on Mrs. Pumphrey, relieving her immense anxiety. To help Tricki recover faster, she immediately started sending lavish care packages to the surgery. First, she sent two dozen fresh eggs at a time, followed by bottles of fine wine and rich brandy, wrongly believing these luxury items would enrich his blood and speed up his healing.

5F. Long Questions and Answers

1. Write a character sketch of Mrs. Pumphrey.
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey was a wealthy and very affectionate woman who loved her dog, Tricki, deeply. She treated him like her own human child and wanted the absolute best for him. She provided him with luxury items like multiple beds, coats for different weather, and bowls. However, her excessive affection made her completely impractical. She blindly overfed Tricki with rich foods like cream cakes, malt, and chocolates. Even worse, she ignored Dr. Herriot’s strict advice about giving him exercise and cutting down his diet. Although her intentions were good, her foolish pampering severely harmed Tricki’s health. She was a highly emotional person who almost fainted when Tricki was taken to the hospital. She even sent wine and eggs to help him heal. Despite her silly mistakes, she was truly caring, deeply emotional, and extremely grateful to Dr. Herriot for curing her beloved pet at the end.

2. Write a character sketch of Tricki.
Ans: Tricki was a small, cute dog who unfortunately enjoyed too much luxury and rich food. Because of the constant pampering by his rich owner, Mrs. Pumphrey, he became very greedy and terribly overweight. He simply loved eating cream cakes and chocolates and never refused any food given to him, day or night. As a result of this bad habit, he grew hugely fat, terribly lazy, and very sick. He looked like a bloated sausage with red, watery eyes. However, despite his laziness at home, he had a good nature. After staying at Dr. Herriot’s surgery, he adapted easily to the tough life. He recovered quickly through hard exercise and a strictly controlled diet, playing happily with the tough clinic dogs. Tricki was also very affectionate and deeply attached to his mistress, whom he greeted with immense excitement and love after his full recovery.

3. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey call Tricki’s recovery “A Triumph of Surgery”? Did she understand his actual illness?
Ans: When Mrs. Pumphrey finally saw Tricki completely healthy, highly energetic, and active again, she was completely amazed by his beautiful transformation. He had turned into a strong, muscular animal. Because he had been so dangerously ill when he left, she believed that Dr. Herriot had performed a remarkable and very difficult medical miracle to save his life. Out of deep gratitude, she called his recovery “A Triumph of Surgery,” thinking he had undergone actual medical treatment at the clinic. However, she never truly understood his actual illness. She did not realize that Tricki’s illness had been entirely caused by her own habit of overfeeding him and giving him zero exercise. She never knew that no actual surgery or medicine was used. In reality, simple discipline, a plain diet, and proper care cured him completely.

4. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey make a desperate call to Dr. Herriot? How did he cure Tricki?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey became terribly frightened because Tricki suddenly stopped eating completely and started vomiting frequently. He refused to eat even his favorite dishes and spent all his time lying on a rug, panting heavily. He did not want to go for walks or do anything at all. Seeing him so lifeless, she immediately made a desperate call to Dr. Herriot for help. Dr. Herriot knew exactly what to do. He admitted Tricki to his surgery to get him away from his spoiling owner. Once there, he gave Tricki no food for the first two days, offering only plenty of water to clean his body. After that, he ensured that Tricki exercised hard and mixed freely with the other dogs. Slowly, Tricki regained his natural appetite and enthusiasm for life. Through simple discipline, diet control, and proper care, Herriot cured Tricki completely without a single drop of medicine.

5. How did Dr. Herriot save Tricki’s life?
Ans: When Tricki became seriously ill, Dr. Herriot immediately understood the real cause of his condition. He knew that the dog was not suffering from any disease but from extreme overfeeding. To save him, he admitted Tricki to his surgery and kept him under strict observation away from Mrs. Pumphrey’s spoiling. He gave him no food for two days but allowed him plenty of fresh water. This helped clean his system. After that, he also encouraged him to exercise and interact with the other clinic dogs. He had to run for his food like the others. Gradually, Tricki regained his appetite and energy. He started enjoying the daily runs and games. Without using any medicine or surgery, Dr. Herriot successfully restored Tricki’s health through proper care, a strict diet, and good discipline.

6. Why did Dr. Herriot say that he was tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest?
Ans: During Tricki’s stay at the surgery, Mrs. Pumphrey was very worried and wanted to build up her dog’s strength. She regularly sent expensive items like dozens of fresh eggs, bottles of fine wine, and even rich brandy to improve Tricki’s health. Since Tricki did not need any of this extra heavy food, Dr. Herriot and his colleagues happily enjoyed these luxury gifts themselves. They ate the extra eggs for breakfast, drank the wine at lunch, and sipped the brandy by the fire at night. Life at the surgery became quite comfortable and highly enjoyable for the doctors. Because he was eating so well thanks to the dog, Herriot jokingly admitted that he was tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest just to keep receiving the wonderful food. However, he was a good, honest professional, so he called Mrs. Pumphrey to return Tricki as soon as he fully recovered.

7. Describe Tricki’s stay at Dr. Herriot’s surgery and his rapid recovery.
Ans: At first, when Tricki arrived at the surgery, he was very weak, fat, and completely inactive. For the first two days, Dr. Herriot strictly gave him only plenty of water and absolutely no food. He just lay quietly on his bed. Slowly, by the third day, Tricki began showing real interest in his new surroundings. He started exploring and playing with the other dogs in the yard. As he ran around, he became much more energetic. Soon, his appetite returned, and he even began fighting for his share of food at meal times. He regained all his strength through constant exercise, fresh air, and fun companionship with the pack. Within a very short period of just two weeks, he lost his extra fat and transformed into a healthy, active, and muscular dog, completely ready to return home.

8. Explain how Mrs. Pumphrey’s foolish indulgence caused Tricki’s suffering.
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey’s excessive pampering and foolish indulgence were the main reasons for Tricki’s terrible suffering. She constantly fed him very rich, unhealthy foods like cream cakes, chocolates, malt, and cod-liver oil, thinking she was helping him. Even worse, she completely ignored the doctor’s clear advice to drastically reduce his heavy diet and increase his daily exercise. Because he was never denied food, Tricki became dangerously overweight, heavily lazy, and eventually fell seriously ill, unable to even walk properly. Her total lack of strict discipline and practical thinking almost killed the pet she loved so deeply. She thought she was being kind, but she was actually making him suffer. Fortunately, Dr. Herriot quickly corrected these major mistakes through proper care, simple diet control, and healthy habits at his clinic. This story clearly teaches us that blind love without practical wisdom can sometimes do much more harm than good.

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