Birth
By A J Cronin
Learning Objectives
I will be able to:
• analyse and interpret the theme of the lesson
• critically analyse the factual details from the lesson and answer evaluative and
extrapolative questions.
D-Words.
Premonition
Sordidly
Resuscitate
Sodden
Word meanings
Premonition = idea
Overwrought = very tired
Sordidly = unpleasantly
Resuscitate = bring back to life
Sodden = soaked
Answer the Following Questions
1. . Who was Joe Morgan? Why was he waiting for the doctor when he
returned at midnight?
Ans. Joe Morgan was a miner working as a driller. He was waiting for the
doctor because his pregnant wife needed medical attention. He was worried
for her as she was going to deliver her first child after 20 years of marriage.
2. Dr Andrew had no idea that this particular night would influence his future
career in Blaenelly. How did it do so?
Ans. When Dr Andrew accompanied Joe Morgan at midnight, he had no
idea that this particular night was going to affect his whole future career. The
doctor did his best to save Susan Morgan and revived the child. This was his
first successful case and thus, a huge contribution to his medical career.
[Link] was Dr Andrew in a conflicting state of mind?
Ans. Dr Andrew loved his girlfriend Christine and thought of leading a
peaceful life with her by marrying her. But he had been thinking of many
unsuccessful marriages. People like Bramwell, Edward or Denny were all
living unhappily due to problems in their marriages. So he was in a very
conflicting state of mind.
4 . What efforts did Dr Andrew make to save the lifeless-looking boy at birth?
Ans. When Dr Andrew saw the lifeless-looking boy, he realised that the boy’s
whiteness meant that he was suffering from asphyxia pallida, which required a
particular method of revival. So, he began a special method of respiration. He
plunged the child into a basin of icy water followed by plunging him into very
hot water repeatedly. Then, in one last desperate effort, he rubbed the boy,
crushing and releasing his chest, trying to get breath into his limp body.
Suddenly the child’s chest started going up and down, some mucus came out of
its nose and finally the boy gave a cry.
5. “Sometimes instincts play a vital role along with bookish knowledge.”
Comment in reference to ‘Birth’.
Ans. Yes, it is true that sometimes instincts play a vital role over bookish
knowledge. In the chapter, ‘Birth’, Dr. Andrew, a medical graduate, uses his
instincts to get over the dilemma of saving the life of the mother or the child.
Instincts help him resuscitate the child as well as save the life of his mother.
Think and Answer
1.“For doctors, the duty towards the patients is foremost, irrespective of
their own personal affairs.” Discuss with reference to the excerpt, ‘Birth’.
Ans. There is a saying that after God, it is the doctor only who can save
the life of someone. A patient comes to a doctor with the hope that he
would cure his illness. But we should not forget that a doctor himself is a
human being. Troubles and miseries are part of his life also. He can also
feel distressed and depressed. In spite of all these, a doctor has to give his
duty the topmost priority.
We saw in the chapter how Dr Andrew made frantic efforts to save the
lives of Mrs Susan Morgan and her child. Dr Andrew also used his
intuition and medical knowledge to save the lifeless child when there was
no hope.
Though he was really upset before coming to Joe Morgan’s house, Dr
Andrew stayed there, as the case demanded all his attention. He could
barely see his own future but was diligent enough to realise his call of
duty. Hence, we can say that even though being preoccupied with his own
personal affairs, he did not forget his duty and made sincere attempts to
succeed. *************************