Birth | Lesson Notes | NCERT Solution
Updated: Oct 15
Lesson Architecture
Theme:
The lesson is an excerpt from the novel ' The Citadel', which deals with the intricacies of human relationships.
It also focuses on the commitment of a dedicated doctor Dr. Andrew in contrast to today's money-minded doctors.
The lesson conveys the message that with sheer determination and dedication we can reach any limestone in our careers.
Lesson-At-A- Glance
Andrew Manson was newly out of medical school and started his medical practice as assistant to Dr. Edward Page in a small mining town of Blaenelly.
The protagonist Dr. Andrew is found to be lost in thought following a bad patch in his personal relationship with his lady love.
Outside Dr. Andrew's house, he saw Joe Morgan was found to be pacing up and down at midnight.
Joe's wife was about to deliver their first child and wanted the doctor to be there.
Dr. Andrew kept his personal affairs aside and accompanied Joe to his house.
Andrew went up to the bedroom where Mrs. Morgan's mother and a midwife were standing beside the patient.
He assured the old woman that he would be there till everything was done.
Mrs. Morgan's mother informed him that Susan-Mrs. Morgan- did not want to be given chloroform if it would harm the baby. Andrew assured that chloroform would do no harm.
After a long harsh struggle for an hour a child was born towards the dawn.
On looking at the lifeless child, Dr. Andrew shivered with horror. Then he looked at Mrs. Morgan who demanded immediate attention.
Dr. Andrew was in a dilemma regarding whom he should attend first- the child or the mother.
Andrew handed the child over to the nurse and shifted his attention to Mrs. Morgan who was unconscious.
After a few minutes of frantic struggle he could stabilise Mrs. Morgan and went back to the child.
The midwife had placed the child beneath the bed among the newspapers. He pulled out the perfectly formed baby boy. The body was warm, white and soft, but limp and seemed boneless.
Andrew could understand that it was a case of suffocation due to lack of oxygen and excess of carbon-dioxide in the blood.
Andrew started giving the necessary treatment. He did not lose heart. The midwife again and again told him that it was a still born child.
He shouted urgently for hot and cold water and basins. He poured hot and cold water into two basins and with quick movements, hurried the child from one to the other.
He laboured in vain for half an hour. There was still no sign of life. he felt utterly dejected when he thought how desperately Mr and Mrs.Morgan were asking for the baby.
Andrew continued with his last effort of rubbing the body with a rough towel, crushing and releasing the chest with both his hands somehow trying to bring in some sign of life.
Suddenly miraculously a short movement was visible on the chest. It seemed to rise in breath.
He redoubled his efforts and the sense of body springing back to life beneath his fingers almost made him faint.
The skin slowly turned pink and finally came the child's cry.
Andrew handed the child to the nurse who sobbed hysterically.
The old woman stood against the wall and was praying.
Andrew went downstairs and drank lot of water. As he stepped out, he found Joe waiting there, tense and expectant.
He walked down the street and experienced an exceptional sense of relief and fulfillment at having done something real at last.
NCERT Solution
Reading With Insight
1.''I've done something; oh god! I've done something real at last.' Why does Andrew say this? What does it mean?
Ans: Anderew makes this statement when he walked out of Morgan's house after a night long struggle with the seemingly dead child. Andrew was struggling a lot to bring life to the apparently dead child. He poured hot and cold water into two basins and with quick movements, hurried the child from one to the other. He laboured in vain for half an hour. There was still no sign of life. He felt utterly dejected when he thought how desperately Mr and Mrs.Morgan were asking for the baby.
Andrew continued with his last effort of rubbing the body with a rough towel, crushing and releasing the chest with both his hands. Thus he heaved a sigh of relief at having tasted success with his frantic effort.
It means that Andrew is a very committed and loyal doctor. He is very tenacious and does not give up even when he feels like giving up. He can put his medicine learning successfully into practice.
2. There lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practicing physician. Discuss.
Ans: Textbook will suggest you a generic method of treatment based on some symptoms. It describes the general symptoms and corresponding treatment options. Doctors gather concept and viable suggestive treatments.
On the other hand, there is a completely different world of a practicing physicians. There is a host of patients with seemingly common yet very different diseases. Only the practicing physician with his hands-on experience with patients adopt customized treatment procedure to cure the patient. The learning experience resulting out of case studies is very fruitful for the practicing physician.
3. Do you know of any incident when someone has be brought back to life from the brink of death through medical help? Discuss medical procedures such as organ transplant and organ regeneration that are used to save human life.
Ans: Make a research on the above question and text me your findings either through mail or in the comment box.
Extra Questions
1. Who was Andrew Manson? why was Joe Morgan waiting for him?
Andrew Manson was a doctor newly out of medical college. He started his medical practice as an assistant to Dr. Edward Page in a small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly.
He was returning from a disappointing evening with Chrisitine, the girl he was in love with.
Joe Morgan was pacing up and down his house awaiting his return. His wife Susan was to deliver their first child after twenty years of marriage. She was in distress and had called for the doctor.
2. Describe how Andrew Manson was able to save the child.
Ans: Andrew pulled out the perfectly formed baby from below the bed where the nurse had kept it. The body was warm, limp, white and soft. He realized the baby was suffocated due to lack of oxygen in blood. He urgently ordered for basins of hot and cold water.
He dipped the baby alternately in hot and cold water and repeatedly pumped the chest hard with both hands. In a miraculous turn of events , the child's chest heaved and it let out a cry.
3. What did Susan's mother fear? How did Andrew react to it?
Ans: The old woman feared that Andrew might decide to leave as there was still some time left for the delivery. Andrew could read her fears and reassured her that he would not go until all was done.
4. Explain the significance of the title 'Birth'.
The title 'Birth' is apt as the story revolves round the birth of a child. The story is an instance of undying passion and tenacious effort of a doctor to save the apparently dead child. The effort that he has taken to restore the life in the child is praiseworthy and merits huge applause. In addition to the birth of a child, this lesson also showcases the birth of confidence and commitment to Andrew Manson's medical profession.
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