Chapter 1 - A Triumph Of Surgery

This article will help you to learn about the summary, characters and themes in the story “A Triumph of Surgery”.

Synopsis 

This story has been written by James Herriot. The subject of this story is a pet dog, spoilt by its owner. The owner indulges her dog so much with food and other comforts that the dog has become overweight and cannot even walk properly. Finally, the dog has been taken to a veterinary doctor who treats the dog without using a single medicine. The dog is left with all other dogs so that it can play and get the much needed physical exercise. After a period of enough physical activities, the dog loses much of its fat and becomes hale and hearty. Apparently, this is a simple story with a simple subject. But if we try to read between the words, the story has much significance for our life as well. You will see many kids who are overweight and spoilt because their parents just try to meet every demand of the kid. The kid develops into a couch potato which is not good for his life.

Character List 

Mrs Pumphrey- A rich lady who had a small pet dog named Tricki. She was foolishly indulgent and would pamper the dog by giving him chocolates, cakes, juice, eggs and wine. She was ignorant and did not know that the dog needed exercise also. She was silly but tender-hearted. She was a simple person and it was easy to please her. She was grateful to Dr Harriot for making Tricki healthy, and went to the extent of calling it a ‘Triumph of Surgery’. So we can say that Mrs Pumphrey was a rich, foolishly indulgent, ignorant, anxious, silly, tenderhearted, simple, easy to please, and a grateful person.

Tricki- Tricki was a little dachshund in the story “A Triumph of Surgery”. He was owned by Mrs Pumphrey who pampered him too much and gave him a lot of fatty food to eat. Tricki did not get enough exercise and became overweight, lazy, and lethargic. Seeing the problem, his vet took him to his own house and gave him a proper diet and regular walks. As a result, Tricki recovered and became a normal and frisky dog. He loved his owner, and was happy when Mrs Pumphrey came to take him back after his supposed “surgery.”

Themes 

The story ‘A Triumph of Surgery’ revolves around an ill dog named Tricki and his owner, Mrs Pumphrey. The dog was hugely fat. His eyes were blood-red and rheumy. Mrs Pumphrey gave her malt, cod-liver oil and bowl of Horlicks. Still, Tricki had no energy. The doctor advised her to cut down on sweet things. Tricki left eating and kept vomiting. He was to be hospitalised. The doctor gave Tricki nothing to eat for the first two days except water. On the third day, there were signs of improvement. He started taking food properly. The doctor didn’t give him any medical treatment. Tricki used to run around and play with the other dogs cheerfully. Soon, he recovered completely. Mrs Pumphrey continued enquiring about Tricki on phone. When she came to collect the dog, tears were shining in her eyes. She called this magical recovery: ‘A Triumph of Surgery’.

For in-depth information on A Triumph of Surgery Class 10 question and answers/ Class 10 Footprints Without Feet Chapter 1 Solutions refer to A Triumph of Surgery PDF and exercises given.