Footprints Without Feet

Lesson-1
A Triumph of Surgery by James Herriot

Short Answer Type Questions

Q.1. What kind of a person do you think the narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is?
I think the narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is a very practical man He, at once,
understands Tricki’s illness. He wants to keep Tricki for a longer period as he knows
Mrs.Pumphrey indulges Tricki out of her love for him – which is spoiling his health. .
This shows he is also tactful and has a lot of common sense. He is kind-hearted and
has a sense of humour.
Q.2. This episode describes the silly behavior 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?
I think that persons like Mrs. Pumphrey are over-indulgent because she is lonely. She
can be called silly also because she lacks in common sense. All know that overeating
and no physical exercise can make even an elephant ill. Such people can cause harm
to others without their meaning to or realizing it, as Mrs. Pumphrey does to Tricki.
Q.3. “I think I know a cure for you.” Who said this and to whom? What was the
‘cure’?
Mr. Herriot, the veterinary surgeon, said this to Mrs. Pumphrey. The ‘cure’ was not
medical treatment, but regulating Tricki’s upkeep. Mr. Herriot gave Tricky the required
diet at the fixed time. Secondly, Tricki had dog company and lots of exercise running
around with other dogs. These things made up a proper ‘cure’ for Tricki.
Q.4. What was wrong with Tricki as found by the author?
Mr. Herriot was shocked to see Tricki’s appearance. It had become hugely fat. Tricki
looked like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner. Its eyes were bloodshot and
rheumy. It appeared to be in a state of illness.
Q.5. What was Mr Herriot’s strict advice? Did Mrs Pumphrey heed his advice?
What excuses did she make?
Mr Herriot’s strict advice was to cut down on the sweet things and to give him plenty
of exercises. But Mrs Pumphrey did not heed this advice. She thought Tricki was weak.
So she was giving him cream cakes and chocolates. Tricki had very little exercise
because the gardener was unwell.
Q.6. Describe the gradual progress of Tricki at the surgery.
 Tricki’s main problem was his greed for food. For two days, Dr Herriot gave no food
but plenty of water to the dog. On the first day, Tricki lay motionless on the carpet. On
the second day, he started showing some interest in his surroundings. On the third
day, he began to whimper when he heard the dogs in the yard. From then on, his
progress was rapid. He started for his share of food and hunting rats at night.
Long Answer Type Questions
Q.1. What was Tricki’s ailment? How did it worry Mrs. Pumphrey? What did
she do for its cure?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey had a pet dog. Its name was Tricki.Tricki had been showing signs
of illness and loss of appetite. In a way, Mrs. Pumphrey herself was responsible for
Tricki’s illness. She found Tricki dull. So she gave it little extras between meals. She
gave it some malt, cod liver oil etc. but she did not give it a physical exercise. As a
result, the dog was overfed and had fallen ill. It did not eat anything. It vomited also.
It spent all its time lying down. Mrs. Pumphrey was sad and called Mr. Herriot,
veterinary surgeon. He took Tricki to his Surgery. Under Mr.Herriott’s appropriate
treatment, Tricki recovered quite soon.
Q.2. How can you say that Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich lady?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey pampered Tricki too much with things that she could spend
money on. She spent a lot of money on delicacies for Tricki. She gave Tricky a rich
diet of eggs, malt, cod liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks. She had all things of comfort for
Tricki. These were day bed, night bed, favorite cushions, toys, rubber rings etc. Then
she sent many delicacies such as fresh eggs, wine, whisky etc to the vet’s surgery as
long as Tricki was under the vet’s care.. She had many servants-maids and nurses in
her household. She travelledin a chauffeur-driven long black car All these instances
show us that Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich lady.
Q.3. Imagine that you are the Veterinary Surgeon in the story, ‘A Triumph of
Surgery’. Write how you treated Tricki and handled Mrs. Pumphrey and her over-
indulgent behavior towards Tricki.
Ans: Treating Tricki and Handling Mrs. Pumphrey
I saw Tricki and at once understood his illness. It was more because of overfeeding
by Mrs. Pumphrey. I took Tricki into my Surgery. I made up a bed for him. I kept my
eyes on him and gave no food to him but plenty of water. At the end of two days, Tricki
Showed some interest in his surroundings. He started searching for food. I gave Tricki
some brandy in the evening. Very soon Tricki became well. The company of dogs also
proved important for his improvement.
I also handled Mrs. Pumphrey properly. She was very sad at Tricki’s illness. I
advised her to cut down Tricki’s food and give him plenty of exercises. But she could
not do so due to her love for him. So I had to take Tricki to my Surgery and regulate
his diet. After a few days he was all right. I told Mrs. Pumphrey of it. She was very glad
to hear this. She called it a triumph of Surgery.
Q.4. Herriot seems to be a duty-bound doctor who values others ’emotions’ than
his personal interests. Elucidate the above statement. Mention those values of
Herriot which you would like to emulate in yourself also and give reasons for
the same. Write your answer in 100-120 words.
Ans: Herriot was a duty-bound veterinary doctor. He used to visit Mrs Pumphrey’s
house regularly for the regular check-up of her dog Tricky. Mrs Pumphrey was a very
rich lady who had pampered her dog. Dr Herriot was quite worried about Trick’s health.
He knew that the dog was over-fed by his owner. He advised Mrs Pumphrey to keep
him go rich diet and give him a lot of exercises. But she didn’t bother. Hence, in order
to improve Trick’s health, he decided to take him away from Mrs Pumphrey. He told
her that ‘raj needed surgery. He made a Tricky cut down his diet and made him do
certain exercises which improved his health. Although he knew Mrs Pumphrey was
very rich and much attached to the dog, he did not take any advantage of it. He just
performed his duties should also learn the same values in our life.
Q.5. Mrs Pumphrey, the overindulgent and caring mistress of Tricki, pampers
her pet dog like a spoiled child. Comment. Or Give a brief character-sketch of
Mrs Pumphrey.
Ans: Mrs Pumphrey was a fabulously rich and resourceful lady with a large number
of servants and maids. She was passionately attached to her little pet dog, Tricki. She
was much worried about Tricki’s miserable condition. Tricki had become hugely fat
and listless. She thought he was suffering from malnutrition. So, she started giving
Tricki malt, cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks at night.
Being overindulgent, Mrs Pumphrey even ignored Dr Herriot’s advice. The doctor
knew that Tricki’s only fault was his greed for food. He had advised Mrs Pumphrey to
cut down food and sweets for Tricki. He also advised her to give him plenty of
exercises. The dog was to be kept on a very strict diet. For Mrs Pumphrey, it was very
difficult for her because she pampered Tricki like a spoiled child. This only
compounded Tricki’s misery. His condition worsened. He lost appetite and started
vomiting.
Mrs Pumphrey was impractical but very compassionate and caring. She and her staff
arranged all comforts, beds, cushions and toys for Tricki. She constantly enquired
about his health from Dr Herriot. She gratefully thanked Dr Herriot for saving Tricki’s
life and called it “a triumph of surgery”. Had she been a little more practical and
disciplined, things might have not gone that far.
Q.6. Give a character sketch of Tricki. Or Tricki was more than a dog. He was
more like a spoiled child of overindulgent mistress, Mrs Pumphrey. Comment.
Ans: Tricki was definitely more than a dog. Actually, he was like a pampered child of
Mrs Pumphrey. Tricki was a small dog. The only fault of Tricki was his greed for food.
Overfeeding and overdose of sweets, cakes and chocolates made Tricki hugely fat.
He became rheumy and listless. His tongue lolled from his jaws. The doctor advised
Mrs Pumphrey to keep Tricki on a very strict diet and give him plenty of exercises.
Tricki became a victim of overindulgence and overfeeding. Dr Herriot’s instructions
were ignored. Troicki lost appetite and started vomiting. Dr Herriot suggested Mrs
Pumphrey that Trick’ be hospitalised under his observation for a fortnight. Tricki was
so much attached to her that she almost fainted merely at the thought of his separation.
Tricki was highly pampered. The entire staff and maids were ever-ready to pamper
time with beds, cushions, toys, etc.
Tricki’s recovery was amazingly rapid. He was not given food but plenty of water. After
a few days, Tricki started taking an interest in his surroundings. He was transformed
into a flexible and hard-muscled dog. Tricki showed his love for his mistress by jumping
onto her lap when she came to collect him.