11th std Birth

11^th std Birth

Extra Question and Answers:

Question 1.
“He had no premonition that this night call would prove unusual, still less that it would influence his whole future in Blaenelly.” What was the unusual event in store for him?
Answer:
At nearly midnight, when Andrew reached Bryngower, he found Joe Morgan waiting for him. Joe and his wife had been married nearly twenty years, and were expecting their first child. He accompanied Joe to his place where after an hour-long, harsh struggle, the child was born lifeless and the mother was in a critical state. Andrew was tom between his desire to save the child, and his obligation towards the mother.

After he revived Susan Morgan, he turned his attention to the child. It was a perfectly formed boy, asphyxiated. He struggled to save the child and finally succeeded. Having saved two lives in the course of the night, his future in Blaenelly seemed to hold promise.

Question 2.
His reason told him that all these marriages were dismal failures. What are the reasons that make him reach this conclusion?
Answer:
Andrew was skeptical about relationships because of what he had closely observed. His thoughts were serious and confused. The episode, he had witnessed at Cardiff station, still obsessed him. He thought of Bramwell, unwisely devoted to a woman who betrayed him; he thought of Edward Page committed to the quarrelsome Blodwen.

His thoughts turned to Denny, living unhappily, away from his wife. His reason told him that all these marriages were dismal failures. It was a conclusion, which made him cringe in his present state. He wished to consider marriage as a peaceful state. The conflict between his cynical mind and his ’ heart, eager to love, left him bitter and confused.

Question 3.
Andrew’s visit to the Morgan’s gave him pleasure and satisfaction that he had not achieved earlier. Justify.
Answer:
At half past three, after an hour’s difficult struggle, the child was born lifeless. Andrew attempted to revive the mother who lay collapsed and almost pulse-less. He injected the medicine and struggled to restore the lifeless Susan Morgan, and after a few minutes of intense effort, her heartbeat became steady.

Andrew then turned his attention to the lifeless baby. He inferred the condition was caused by lack of oxygen in the baby’s blood. He initiated the artificially induced method of respiration. Pouring cold water into one basin and warm, into the other, he rushed the child, from one basin to the next, for fifteen minutes.

Question 4
“I have done something; oh, God! I’ve done something real at last.” Why does Andrew say this? What does it mean?
Answer:
The young doctor Andrew Manson had done a commendable work. His exclamation is justified. He had not only helped the middle-aged lady in the safe delivery of a male child but also restored them to perfect health. Susan Morgan’s strength was ebbing after the delivery. She was almost pulse less. Andrew gave her an injection and worked severely to strengthen her heart.
The major achievement of Andrew was to resuscitate the stillborn child. First, he laid the child of a blanket and began the special method of respiration. Then he tried the hot and cold water treatment dipping the baby alternately. He laboured in vain for half an hour. He then made another last effort. He rubbed the child with a rough towel. He went on pressing and releasing the baby’s little chest with both his hands. At last the baby responded. His chest heaved. Andrew redoubled his efforts. The child was gasping now. A bubble of mucus came from his tiny nostril. The pale skin turned pink. His limbs became hard. Then came the child’s cry.
Andrew called upon God as witness of his act which was no less than a miracle. It was not mere theoretical talk but a practical achievement—something real and solid.

Question 5
‘There lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising physician.’ Discuss.
Answer:
Normally, the medicines prescribed in the textbooks are used by the practising physicians. However, in extreme cases of emergency, the physician’s experience, resourcefulness and practical approach become far more important than the theoretical knowledge. For example, a victim of bum-injury, snakebite or suffocation through drowning needs immediate help.

The nearest available doctor may not have all the facilities needed for the case. In such a situation first-aid is a must to save the patient’s life before rushing him to the hospital for proper care. With limited resources at his command, the practising physician exercises all his practical experience to control the damage to the minimum and check the victim’s state from further deterioration.

So, we can conclude there lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising physician ,exactly like a stitch in time does save nine ,the practical help comes as a boon in such cases.

Question 6
Who was Joe.Morgan? Why had he been waiting for Dr Andrew Manson?
Answer:
Joe Morgan was a driller in Blaenelly, a mining town. He was a big, strong and heavy middle-aged person. Joe and his wife Susan, who had been married nearly twenty years, were expecting their first child. Joe was waiting for the doctor to help Susan in the delivery of the child.

Question 7
Where did Joe lead Andrew? Why did he not go in with the doctor?
Answer: Joe Morgan led Andrew to his house, 12, Blaina Terrace. His wife was about to deliver her first child after being married for nearly twenty years. Joe was quite tensed. He refused to go inside the house. Even his voice showed signs of strain.

Question 8
“Don’t fret, mother, I’ll not run away”. Why do you think Andrew say so?
Answer:
Mrs Morgan’s mother offered to make a cup of tea for the doctor. The experienced woman had realized that there must be a period of waiting. She was afraid that the doctor would leave^ the case saying that he would return later.

Question 9
Why did Andrew decide to remain there until everything was over?
Answer:
Andrew had reached Bryngower at about midnight. He was very worried and upset. He needed some rest and sleep. He knew that he could not sleep even for an hour if he went home. Secondly, he knew that the case would demand all his attention. He felt lethargic and decided to remain there until everything was over.

Question 10
What had Andrew been thinking about? How would you like to describe the state of his thoughts?
Answer:
Andrew had been thinking about the unsuccessful married lives of some persons he knew. Bramwell was foolishly devoted to a woman who deceived him immorally. Edward Page was bound to quarrelsome Blodwen. Denny was living unhappily apart from his wife. His thoughts were petrified and muddled.

Question 11
What was Andrew’s view of marriage? Why was he resentful and confused?
Answer:
Marriage was a beautiful institution and a peaceful state. He loved Christine passionately. The conflict between his steady mind and overflowing heart left him resentful and confused.

Question 12
Why did Andrew feel surprised while sitting by kitchen fire?
Answer:
Andrew had been thinking about his beloved as he sat by the kitchen fire. He sat still, pale and sadly for a long time. When the old woman sitting opposite him suddenly addressed him, Andrew recollected himself and returned to the present moment, also felt surprised.

Question 13
In what state did Andrew find the newborn child? What did he conclude?
Answer:
Andrew found the baby amongst wet newspapers under the bed. Its limp warm body was white and soft. It looked like a piece of flesh with a configured body and its head lolled on the thin neck. The limbs seemed boneless. The whiteness over the body meant suffocation caused by the lack of oxygen.

Question 14
How did Andrew’s practical experience come handy?
Answer:
Andrew had once seen a similar case in the Samaritan. He remembered the treatment that had been used. He at once decided to administer the hot and cold water therapy, which was a life saver at that point of time and now also.

Question 15
What efforts did Andrew make to revive the newborn baby?
Answer:
First, he laid the child upon a blanket and gave it artificial respiration. Then he dipped the child alternately in hot and cold water. After that he rubbed the slippery child with a rough towel. He pressed and released his chest till it began to breathe.As a result of Andrew’s persistent efforts, the small chest of the baby heaved up. This short heave was followed by other heart beats. Andrew turned giddy. The sense of life, throbbing under his feelings almost made him faint out of sheer happiness.

Question 16
Compare and contrast Andrew’s emotional, mental and physical state at the beginning of the story and at the end.
Answer:
At the beginning of the story Andrew is physically tired and emotionally upset. He has just returned from a disappointing evening with Christine, the girl he loved. His thoughts are heavy and muddled. The episode he had witnessed at Cardiff station still filled his mind with sadness. Though he thought of marriage as a blissful state, he couldn’t help remembering the miserable failure of many marriages.
At the end of the story, Andrew is physically exhausted but emotionally cheerful and mentally alert. His mind is filled with joy and self-satisfaction. He has performed an unusual feat, no less than a miracle. He calls upon God as witness that he has done something real at last. This sense of achievement helps him to overcome physical fatigue. His sense of duty towards his patients helps him to attend them whole-heartedly. He forgets his personal feelings and thinks only of reviving the patients.

Question 17
What impression do you form of Andrew Manson on the basis of the story ‘Birth’?
Answer:
Andrew Manson is a young man who has recently qualified as a doctor and started his medical practice as an assistant to Dr Edward Page in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. He is in love with Christine and thinks of marriage as an idyllic state. His heart is overflowing with love. His steady mind and reason help him see the marriages of many persons as dismal failures.
Andrew is mature enough to keep his private and professional fives apart. Once confronted with his responsibility, he discharges his obligations to the utmost capacity. He is duty conscious. He is not a theorist only. He believes in practical approach. He is pragmatic and is not afraid to try unique methods.
Andrew has a tender heart. He is aware of the feelings of others. He knows how deeply Susan loved her coming baby. He has polite manners and reassuring tone. On the whole, Andrew impresses us as a dedicated doctor.