BIRTH

What is asphyxia pallida?

Answer 6: Asphyxia pallida is a serious disorder caused by a lack of Oxygen and a

high concentration of Carbon dioxide in the blood. It causes a lack of breathing and
pale, whitish-colored skin. Asphyxia pallida is a major reason for the death of
newborn babies and is generally caused due to complications during childbirth.

Question 7. Who was Joe Morgan, and why was he waiting for Andrew?

Answer 7: Joe Morgan was a large and strong person who worked as a mining
dealer and lived in Blaenelly. He was waiting for Andrew because his wife was
expecting a baby, and he needed Andrew to assist his wife.

Question 8. Write a brief note about Susan’s mother.

Answer 8: Susan’s mother was an older woman, nearly seventy years old. She is tall
and grey-haired. The author described her as a wise and experienced woman. She
offered Andrew tea that he couldn’t leave. She was also closely observing him. She
had a great expectation of a grandchild from her daughter.

Question 9. What was Andrew’s thought regarding marriage?

Answer 9: Andrew had a very optimistic view regarding marriage. Though he

remembered the failed marriages of a few people he knew, he still believed marriage
to be a peaceful event. However, the thought of Christine soon confused his brain.
He knew his doubtful mind had put him in this confusion, but he couldn’t find a way
out.

Question 10. Why did a shiver of horror pass through Andrew?

Answer 10: Andrew was called by Joe Morgan to assist his pregnant wife, Susan,
who was giving birth after twenty years of marriage. Both Susan and her mother had
a great longing for the child. Andrew promised Susan’s mother he wouldn’t run away
from the patient. When Susan gave birth to the child, it looked lifeless, and she was
in devastating condition. That made a shiver of horror pass through Andrew as he
couldn’t decide whom to assist first.

Question 11. Describe the mental pain that Andrew experienced in the
story.

Answer 11: In the story, Dr. Andrew Manson, a young medical professional, was
called by Joe Morgan to assist his pregnant wife. We can learn from Andrew’s
remembrance of his confusion regarding marriage and his existing relationship with
Christine. The thought of Christine was occupying his brain. At the same time, his
night awakening for Mrs. Morgan also caused physical exhaustion. That further made
his mind tired.

Question 12. How did the newborn child look?

Answer 12: The newborn child was a boy. He was perfectly formed, and his skin
was smooth and tender. But he couldn’t breathe and apparently looked lifeless. His
head was tilting from his neck, and his limbs looked boneless. He looked extremely
pale and white.

Question 13. Why did Andrew decide to wait at Joe Morgan’s house?

Answer 13: Andrew was called to Joe Morgan’s house to assist his pregnant wife at
night. Joe’s mother-in-law feared he might leave because of the long wait and
offered him tea. After drinking tea, Andrew thought that even if he returned, he
wouldn’t have an hour’s sleep. So, a lethargy started to come, and he decided to
wait at Morgan’s house and return after completing his task.

Question 14. Describe how Andrew brought the child back to life.

Answer 14: Joe Morgan’s wife, Sofia, gave birth to an apparent lifeless boy. She
herself was in a dangerous condition. After bringing her out of danger, Andrew
focused on the child. He couldn’t accept the fact that the baby was lifeless. He
closely observed the baby and recognised the disease to be asphyxia pallida. He
remembered one such case and asked the nurse to bring basins and hot and cold
water. Then, he filled one basin with warm water and the other with cold water. He
started to plunge the baby into cold and warm water alternatingly. After doing this
for half an hour, the baby gave no sign of breathing. For one last try, he started to
rub a towel against the child’s chest to initiate respiration. Suddenly, a miracle
happened. The baby began to breathe, his skin changed from pale to pink, and he
cried his first cry. The child’s cry made the nurse sob, and Andrew almost fainted in
excitement.

Question 15. “I have done something; oh, God! I’ve done something real at
last.” Why does Andrew say this? What does it mean?

Answer 15: Andrew was called by Joe Morgan to assist his pregnant wife, Sofia. She
gave birth to a lifeless baby. But Andrew understood that the baby was not dead but
was the victim of asphyxia pallida, a rare disease that occurs in babies due to
complexities during birth. He asked the nurse to bring hot and cold water. He
plunged the baby into hot and cold water and rubbed its chest with a towel. Though
the nurse lost hope, Andrew continued the process, and the baby revived. It gave its
first cry. As a young doctor, Andrew didn’t only save the child but the mother and
won against the odds. Thus, he felt he had finally achieved some real success as a
doctor.

Saving lives is the biggest duty of a doctor. Here, Andrew, a young professional
already lost in confusion and mental pain due to his relationship with Christine,
wanted to prove himself as a doctor. The revival of the child brought confidence to
his heart, and he felt he could win against himself.

Question 16. Describe how the child plays a significant role in the story.

Answer 16: The child played a very important role in the story. The main character,
Dr Andrew Manson, a young professional, was called by Joe Morgan to assist his
pregnant wife, Sofia. Andrew, who was already submerged in the thoughts of

Christine decided to leave Joe’s house after completing his task. Sofia gave birth to a
lifeless baby. That made Andrew horrified. He remembered his promise to Joe and
did his best to save the baby. For Andrew, it became a challenge to win against
[Link] the other hand, Joe and Sofia were expecting their first child after twenty
years of marriage. So, they had a great longing for the baby. Joe’s mother-in-law also
deeply wanted a grandchild. Thus, the baby became an important aspect of
everyone’s life. When Andrew successfully revived the child, he felt he had achieved
something on the other hand, Joe’s marriage was saved, and Sofia’s mother’s wish
was fulfilled. At the end of the story, with the child’s cry, a new dawn broke,
signifying the beginning of new journeys in each character’s life.

Question 17. There is a great difference between textbook medicine and

the world of a practising physician. Discuss.

Answer 17: A doctor is one of the noblest professions in the world. The great duty
of saving a life is not done easily. Continuous experience is needed to reach that
level. Textbook knowledge is only a part of the journey. It teaches physicians about
different diseases, their causes, and medicines. But the real application of the
knowledge occurs when dealing with patients. And in real encounters with patients,
physicians require much more than bookish knowledge. Courage, observance, strong
nerves, the capability to take risks, and physical and mental energy play a major role
in the right treatment, especially in a serious condition. Herein lies the actual test for
doctors. Thus, the process of being a good doctor takes loads of experience. The
motivation to save lives and sympathy for patients are key factors in being a great
physician, and these virtues are not taught in textbooks. One can acknowledge these