Lesson - Birth

Birth Introduction

“Birth” is an excerpt from “The Citadel” that revolves around Andrew Manson who just graduated
from medical school. It is an account of how the newly graduated medical practitioner helped in
bringing Joe and Susan’s child into this world despite going through a tough time with his girlfriend
Christine

Birth Summary

Birth Summary – The lesson begins with Andrew walking towards his home after having an
unpleasant time with his girlfriend Christine. Upon reaching home at around midnight, he finds Joe
Morgan outside his house waiting for him. Joe and Susan had been expecting a child. Upon reaching,
Joe tells Andrew that he is too anxious to be going inside, so Andrew walks in alone. He realizes that
there is still some time left. Susan’s mother, who is wise but tense at the moment, offers him some
tea. While he is sipping his tea, he begins thinking about his girlfriend. He recalls how his friends too
are having a hard time in their relationships.

On the other hand, he feels that marriage is meant to be something peaceful and cheerful. Thus, he
finds himself in a conflict. Susan’s mother tells him how worried Susan is for the child because the
situation is complicated. After performing the procedure, the child is born, but is lifeless. Confused
between addressing the child or the mom, who herself laid unconscious at the moment, he chooses
to look after Susan first. He injected her with a few medicines and when he realised that her heart
was regaining its strength, he turned towards the child. It was a boy in perfect shape. He suddenly
remembered that it was a case of restricted oxygen supply and thus, he instructed the nurse to get
hot and cold water.
The nurse, reluctant at first, got him what he needed and he juggled the child in hot and cold water
simultaneously. After all his efforts, the child still lay lifeless. All others had already lost hope, while
he continued with the procedures.

Finally, the child heaved and got his breath. His body was no longer still, leaving everyone surprised.
The nurse muttered words of prayer while holding the child. The grandmother was also praying,
while Susan still laid unconscious. Exhausted, Andrew left while informing Joe that all is well. While
he was walking home at around five in the morning, his heart was full at having accomplished
something real in his life.

Birth NCERT Solution

1. “I have done something; oh, God! I’ve done something real at last.” Why does Andrew say this?
What does it mean?
Ans. Andrew says that he had done something real at last. He said this because he had handled a
tough situation. He had been successful at saving both – the mother and the child. It was a
complicated delivery and gaining success at it made him feel that he had something worthwhile.
Doing something real at last means Andrew felt content and jubilant at his own efforts and the
achievement.

2. There lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising physician.
Discuss.
Ans. Textbook medicine gives knowledge about medicines, diseases, human anatomy and
treatments. However, it does not teach you how to handle stressful situations. While a practicing
physician has to work in various odd situations. His skills of endurance and medical expertise are
tested in such situations. So, textbook medicine and the world of a practicing physician are very
different from each other.

Q3. Who was Joe Morgan? Why was he so tense, and waiting anxiously for Dr Andrew that night?
Answer. Joe Morgan worked as an excavator in Blaenelly, a mining town. He was a tall, robust, heavy-
set man in his forties. Joe and his wife of nearly 20 years, Susan, were expecting their first child. Joe
Morgan was in desperate need of Dr. Andrew’s assistance. Susan, his wife, was in labor. After 20
years of marriage, she was about to give birth to their first child. Joe and Susan were anxious for the
baby to arrive safely. So he waited for the doctor with bated breath.

Q4. That night proved unusual and it influenced Dr Andrew’s whole future in Blaenelly. What
miraculous thing happened that night?
Answer. Dr Andrew began his medical career in the mining town of Blaenelly. The successful handling
of Mrs Joe’s case was a watershed moment in his life. It was nothing short of a miracle that he had
restored life in a stillborn child by alternating between dipping it in cold and warm water. He gained
not only satisfaction but also name and fame.

Q5. Susan’s mother was wise in experience. What hints did she give of her wisdom?
Answer. Susan’s mother was a tall, gray-haired woman who was nearly seventy years old. She knew
from personal experience that childbirth would take some time. She was astute enough to suspect
that Dr Andrew would not be patient for long. So she tried to persuade him to stay by offering him
tea and sitting next to him.

Q6. Comment on the behavior and role of the midwife attending Susan Morgan.
Answer. Susan’s midwife demonstrated a lack of experience and a professional demeanor. She
immediately declared that the baby was stillborn. She tucked it beneath the bed. Even when Andrew
was attempting to resuscitate the baby, she expressed her disbelief and even discouraged Andrew
from continuing his feverish efforts. Her joy was heightened by the baby’s cry.

Q6. What did the stillborn child look like when Andrew turned his attention to it?
Answer. Although the baby’s body was fully formed and warm, it was devoid of life. It had been
placed beneath the bed by the nurse. But Andrew drew the child out. It had a limp warm body that
was as white and soft as animal fat. The skin was smooth, but the limbs appeared to be boneless. It
was depleted of oxygen.

Q7. What did Andrew do to restore life in the stillborn child?

Answer. Andrew remembered a similar situation in the past. He treated the stillborn baby the same
way. He requested hot and icy cold water. He alternated between immersing the baby in cold and
warm water. He rubbed the child’s chest with a rough towel and pressed and released his hands on
the child’s chest. A miracle occurred. It cried as its skin turned pink.

Q8. Give a brief life-sketch and achievements of Dr Andrew Manson.

Answer. Dr. Andrew Manson had just graduated from medical school. In a small mining town, he was
working as an assistant to Dr. Edward Page. He had a crush on Christine, but he had a bad night with
her when he met Joe. He was exhausted and tense. It was well after midnight. But, true to his calling,
he went with Joe to see Susan Morgan, who was in labor. Andrew wasn’t bothered by the wait. He
waited until daybreak without sleeping a wink. When he was faced with a dilemma, he proved his
worth. The baby had no heartbeat, and the mother was sinking. He worked tirelessly to save both.
He first saved the mother by administering a life-saving injection to her. When he took the lifeless but
warm baby into his arms, he was reminded of a similar case from medical school. He gave the baby
the same treatment and saved him. He resurrected both of them.

Q9. What was Andrew’s dilemma after the delivery? How did he solve the problem so
successfully?
Answer. The baby was born at dawn. As he looked at the lifeless baby, Dr Andrew was filled with
horror. He was now dealing with two patients. Susan’s pulse was rapidly fading. The infant was white,
limp, and lifeless. Andrew was at a loss as to who he should prioritize. He injected Susan and pulled
her out of danger based on instinct. Then he drew out the child, who was warm but not breathing.
He used cold and hot water, as well as the pressure of his hands, to give it an unusual treatment.
There was also a miracle. When the child cried out, he thanked God.