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Rajasthan (RBSE)Class 10 English★ 4–6 marks · RBSE Class 10 English board (Footprints without Feet — Supplementary Reader)

A Triumph of Surgery

RBSE Class 10 English (Footprints without Feet) Chapter 1 — James Herriot's humorous story of Tricki, a hugely overfed and pampered little dog, and the vet who 'cures' him not with surgery but with plain food and exercise. A gentle satire on over-indulgence, with summary, themes and RBSE board-pattern questions with answers.

⏱ 20 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Narrate the plot of 'A Triumph of Surgery' in sequence
2Explain the irony of the title (no surgery was performed)
3Identify the real cause of Tricki's illness and the simple cure
4Describe the characters of Mrs Pumphrey and Mr Herriot
5Discuss the theme that over-indulgence is harmful and write value-based answers

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Why this chapter matters

The opening lesson of the supplementary reader, with a clear plot and a strong, examinable message about over-indulgence. The RBSE board regularly sets a short-answer and a value-based question from it.

A Triumph of Surgery — RBSE Class 10 English (Footprints without Feet)

A rich woman loves her little dog so much that she nearly kills it with kindness — chocolates, cream cakes and cushions. The "triumph of surgery" in the title is a joke: there is no surgery at all. The cure is the most ordinary thing in the world — and that is exactly the writer's point.

1. The story in brief

Tricki is a small dog owned by the wealthy Mrs Pumphrey, who adores and dangerously over-indulges him. She feeds him rich treats — cream cakes, chocolates, malt, cod-liver oil, even bowls of Horlicks between meals — and gives him almost no exercise. As a result Tricki becomes hugely fat, listless and unwell: he refuses food, vomits, and lies "like a bloated sausage."

The narrator, the vet James Herriot (Mr Herriot), warns Mrs Pumphrey that the dog is overfed and under-exercised, but she does not act. When Tricki collapses, an alarmed Mrs Pumphrey finally calls Herriot, who takes Tricki away to his surgery (the vet's clinic) to treat him.

At the surgery there is, in fact, no surgery and no medicine. Herriot simply puts Tricki on a strict regime: for two days he gives the dog only water, then plain, normal food in small amounts, and lets him run about and play with the other dogs in the practice. Within days Tricki is transformed — active, fit, and eating normally again, competing happily for food with the other dogs.

Meanwhile, the anxious Mrs Pumphrey keeps sending eggs, wine and brandy "to build up his strength" — which the vet and his colleagues cheerfully consume themselves! When the recovered, slim Tricki is returned, Mrs Pumphrey is overjoyed and tearfully calls it "a triumph of surgery" — though no surgery was ever performed.

2. Themes and the satire

Over-indulgence is harmful. Mrs Pumphrey's excessive love and rich food, not any disease, made Tricki ill. The story warns that pampering can be a form of harm.
Simple living is the real cure. Plain food, water and exercise — basic discipline — restored the dog's health. Nature's remedies beat luxury.
Gentle irony/satire. The title is ironic: there was no surgery. The writer pokes fun at the rich woman's ignorance and at the comfortable vets who enjoy her gifts of wine and eggs while doing almost nothing.
The vet's professionalism (and mild opportunism). Herriot diagnoses correctly and acts sensibly — though he is not above enjoying the free luxuries.

3. The characters

Tricki — the pampered, overfed little dog; the victim of misplaced love, who recovers with simple care.
Mrs Pumphrey — wealthy, warm-hearted but foolishly indulgent; she loves Tricki to the point of endangering him.
Mr Herriot (the narrator) — the practical, observant vet; kind and competent, with a sly sense of humour.

4. Why it matters

Beneath the comedy is a quietly serious message about love and discipline. Mrs Pumphrey's love is genuine but undisciplined, and it nearly destroys the thing she loves. The cure is not cleverness or expense but restraint — exactly the discipline she could not impose herself.

For the RBSE board, hold on to the irony of the title (no surgery happened), the real cause of Tricki's illness (overfeeding + no exercise), the simple cure (water, plain food, exercise), and the comic detail of the eggs/wine/brandy the vets enjoyed. These are the chapter's standard questions, and the satire is a favourite value-based prompt.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Author

James Herriot (a vet and writer; the narrator)

Based on his life as a country vet.

Main characters

Tricki (the dog) · Mrs Pumphrey (owner) · Mr Herriot (vet)

Tricki is the patient.

Cause of illness

Over-feeding (rich treats) + lack of exercise

Not a disease — pampering.

The cure

Two days of only water, then plain food + exercise

No surgery, no medicine.

The irony

Title says 'surgery' but none was done

Satire on Mrs Pumphrey's ignorance.

Comic detail

Eggs, wine and brandy sent for Tricki — enjoyed by the vets

Light humour throughout.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Saying Tricki was cured by an operation

✓ There was NO operation. The 'triumph of surgery' is ironic — Tricki recovered through a strict diet of water then plain food, plus exercise.

WATCH OUT

✗ Blaming a disease for Tricki's condition

✓ Tricki was ill because Mrs Pumphrey overfed him with rich treats and gave him no exercise — over-indulgence, not illness, was the cause.

WATCH OUT

✗ Portraying Mrs Pumphrey as cruel

✓ She loved Tricki dearly; her fault was foolish over-indulgence, not cruelty. The story satirises misguided love, not malice.

WATCH OUT

✗ Forgetting the eggs/wine/brandy detail

✓ Mrs Pumphrey kept sending eggs, wine and brandy 'for Tricki', which the vets cheerfully consumed — a key comic point often asked.

WATCH OUT

✗ Missing the theme

✓ The message is that over-indulgence harms, and simple living (plain food, exercise, discipline) is the real cure.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Read and Find Out

In-text questions tracking Tricki's condition and treatment

Questions

Think about it

Why Tricki was ill; the irony; the vets' enjoyment of the gifts

Questions

Talk about it / Writing

Pet care, over-indulgence, and a short writing task

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Fact-recall

Who is the author and narrator of 'A Triumph of Surgery'?

▶ Show solution

✦ Answer: James Herriot, who is also the vet narrating the story.

Q2EASY· Fact-recall

What was really wrong with Tricki?

▶ Show solution

He was grossly overfed on rich treats and given no exercise, which made him fat and unwell.

✦ Answer: over-feeding and lack of exercise (not a disease).

Q3EASY· Comprehension

What was the 'cure' Mr Herriot used?

▶ Show solution

Two days of only water, then small amounts of plain food, along with plenty of exercise/play with the other dogs.

✦ Answer: a strict diet (water then plain food) plus exercise — no medicine or surgery.

Q4MEDIUM· Theme

Why is the title 'A Triumph of Surgery' ironic?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — The title suggests a difficult, skilful operation saved the dog.

Step 2 — In reality no surgery (and no medicine) was performed; Tricki recovered simply through diet and exercise.

Step 3 — Calling such an ordinary cure a 'triumph of surgery' (as Mrs Pumphrey does) is therefore ironic and satirical.

✦ Answer: there was no surgery at all — the grand title mocks the simple, common-sense cure.

Q5MEDIUM· Character

What kind of person was Mrs Pumphrey?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — She was wealthy and extremely fond of her dog Tricki.

Step 2 — But her love was foolishly indulgent — she overfed him with rich treats and ignored the vet's advice, harming the very pet she adored.

✦ Answer: rich and loving, but dangerously over-indulgent towards her pet.

Q6MEDIUM· Comprehension

What happened to the eggs, wine and brandy that Mrs Pumphrey sent for Tricki?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — She sent them to 'build up' the ailing Tricki's strength.

Step 2 — Since Tricki did not need them, the vet and his colleagues happily ate and drank these luxuries themselves.

✦ Answer: the vets cheerfully consumed them — a comic touch.

Q7HARD· Theme

How does the story show that over-indulgence is harmful? What is its message?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Mrs Pumphrey's excessive love expressed through rich food (cakes, chocolates, malt) and no exercise made Tricki dangerously fat and ill.

Step 2 — When the dog was put on a simple regime of water, plain food and exercise, he recovered fully within days.

Step 3 — This contrast shows that indulgence harms, while moderation and discipline restore health.

Step 4 — The message: love must be balanced with discipline; simple, healthy living is far better than luxury and pampering.

✦ Answer: pampering made Tricki ill, simple care cured him — love needs discipline; moderation is healthiest.

Q8HARD· Value-based

What lesson about caring for pets (and people) can we draw from this story?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — Real care means meeting genuine needs — proper diet and exercise — not just giving treats and comfort.

Step 2 — Over-indulgence, even from love, can cause real harm.

Step 3 — Discipline and moderation are acts of love, not unkindness.

Step 4 — Listening to expert advice (the vet's) is wiser than following sentiment alone.

✦ Answer: caring means discipline and meeting true needs, not pampering; moderation and expert advice protect those we love.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Author/narrator: James Herriot, a country vet.
•Tricki, Mrs Pumphrey's little dog, is overfed on rich treats and gets no exercise.
•He becomes hugely fat and ill — refusing food and vomiting.
•Herriot takes Tricki to his surgery but performs NO surgery or medicine.
•Cure: two days of only water, then plain food, plus exercise with other dogs.
•Mrs Pumphrey sends eggs, wine and brandy 'for Tricki' — the vets enjoy them.
•Tricki recovers fully; Mrs Pumphrey calls it 'a triumph of surgery' (ironic).
•Theme: over-indulgence is harmful; simple living and discipline are the real cure.

Rajasthan (RBSE) marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 4–6 marks

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
MCQ / extract-based	1	1–2	Plot facts, characters, vocabulary
Short answer	2–3	1–2	Cause of illness; the cure; the title's irony
Long answer	4–5	1	Theme of over-indulgence; value-based question

Prep strategy

Be ready to explain the irony of the title in two sentences
Note the real cause (overfeeding + no exercise) and the simple cure
Remember the comic eggs/wine/brandy detail
Prepare a value-based answer on love, discipline and pet care

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Responsible pet care

The story is a clear lesson in not over-feeding pets and ensuring they get exercise.

Healthy living

Its 'plain food + exercise beats luxury' message applies directly to human health and lifestyle.

Love vs discipline

It prompts reflection on how genuine care sometimes means saying no, not indulging.

Understanding satire

A gentle, accessible example of irony and satire for literature study.

Persuasive/advice writing

Good basis for writing tasks advising on pet care or healthy habits.

Critical thinking

Encourages questioning sentimental decisions and valuing expert advice.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Lead theme answers with the irony of the title.
State the cause (overfeeding + no exercise) and the simple cure precisely.
Include the eggs/wine/brandy comic detail where relevant.
For character questions, show Mrs Pumphrey's love AND her foolish indulgence.
In value-based answers, connect to responsible care and the need for discipline.
For extract questions, identify the speaker and the situation before explaining.

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Satire and irony as tools of social comment in short fiction.
First-person narration by a professional (the vet) and its comic effect.
The tradition of animal stories that comment on human behaviour.
How an ironic title shapes the reader's expectations.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

RBSE Class 10 Board (BSER Ajmer)Medium–High — short-answer and value-based questions

NTSE / state scholarshipLow — reading comprehension

CBSE/other board EnglishHigh — same prescribed text

Olympiads (English/IEO)Low–Medium — comprehension and irony

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

Yes. RBSE prescribes NCERT 'Footprints without Feet' as the supplementary reader for Class 10 English, so this lesson is the same. RBSE (BSER Ajmer) sets the exam pattern and marking.

Because no surgery was ever performed. Tricki was cured by a simple regime of water, plain food and exercise. Mrs Pumphrey's grand phrase 'a triumph of surgery' mocks her ignorance of the truly ordinary cure.

Over-indulgence. Mrs Pumphrey fed him rich treats — cakes, chocolates, malt — and gave him almost no exercise, so he became dangerously overweight and sick. It was pampering, not disease.

He gave Tricki only water for two days, then small amounts of plain food, and let him run and play with the other dogs. Plain diet and exercise restored the dog to health.

That love must be balanced with discipline. Over-indulgence, even out of affection, can harm; moderation, plain living and exercise are the real keys to health.

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