Chapter 7 – Birth

Page Number: 70

Reading with Insight

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

Answer.

Andrew spoke these words in the ecstasy of saving both the mother’s and the child’s
lives. Andrew was depressed before the operation because of the pain his girlfriend
had caused him. When he successfully delivered the baby, he discovered that the
baby had died. Then he decided to first cure the mother, which he did. Following
that, he carefully observed the baby and determined the problem. He then
immediately administered the necessary treatment and resuscitated the baby. As a
result, he successfully did something meaningful. Till that point, he was just thinking
and then he did something real.

Q2 Why was Andrew Manson called in? How did he react to the call of duty?
Answer:
Andrew Manson had just begun his medical practice in the small Welsh mining town
of Blaenelly. He was called in to attend to Susan Morgan, who was expecting her
first child after being married for nearly twenty years. Her husband, Joe Morgan had
been waiting for an hour outside the closed surgery. It was nearly midnight when
Andrew reached there. As Joe acquainted Andrew with his wife’s condition, Andrew
forgot his own affairs. He went inside his house for his bag and immediately left for
the driller’s place.
Since his services were not immediately needed by the expecting mother, he
decided to wait downstairs. He re-examined her after an hour. It was at 3:30 am
when the nurse summoned him. He struggled for an hour before the child was born.
Then he worked feverishly to revive the weak mother and the stillborn child. He had
to use all his knowledge and experience in discharging his duty. He did not pay
attention to his own physical tiredness or mental tension. Duty came first and he
responded to it with single-minded devotion.

Q3. Give a brief account of the efforts made by Andrew to revive the stillborn baby.
Answer:
A shiver of horror passed over Andrew as he gazed at the still form of the newborn
baby. Though it was a perfectly formed boy, its limp warm body was white. The
whiteness meant suffocation caused by lack of oxygen. Andrew remembered the
treatment given to such a case in the Samaritan. Before the hot and cold water came
he had asked for, he laid the child upon a blanket and gave it artificial respiration.
Then he dipped the child alternately in hot and cold water. Now, the child was quite
slippery. He rubbed it with a rough towel. Then he pressed and released his chest till
it heaved up. It was followed by other heaves. Andrew redoubled his efforts. The
child started gasping. A bubble of mucus came from one tiny nostril. The pale skin
turned pink. The limbs were no longer boneless. His head did not lie back
spinelessly. The child gave a cry. It came alive.

Q4
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 [Link] 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.

Q5. What impression do you form of Andrew Manson on the basis of the story
‘Birth’?

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.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Who was [Link]? 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 2:
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 3:
“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 4:
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 5:

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 muddled (confused).

Question 6:
What was Andrew’s view of marriage? Why was he resentful and confused?
Answer:
For Andrew marriage was a peaceful and beautiful state. He loved Christine. The
conflict between his steady mind and overflowing heart left him resentful and
confused.
Question 7:
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
and sadly for a long time. When the old woman sitting opposite him suddenly
addressed him, Andrew felt surprised.

Question 8:
Why did a shiver of horror pass over Andrew?
Answer:
Andrew had struggled for more than an hour to help Mrs Susan Morgan in the safe
delivery of her first child. At last, the child was born, but it was lifeless. As Andrew

Question 9
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.

Question 10

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 and gave a
city.