Birth
by A.J. Cronin
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Introduction to Chapter
This chapter is an extract from A. J. Cronin's novel, 'The Citadel' (1937). It describes how a young doctor revives a child that is thrown away as stillborn. Joe Morgan and his wife are a middle-aged couple. They have been married for twenty years, but haven't any child so far. Now Mrs Morgan is expecting her first child. Both her husband and her mother are feeling very nervous because the delivery of the child is going to be before time. A young doctor named Andrew is called in. The doctor has to put in hard labour in the delivery of the child. When the child is born, it seems to be stillborn. This shock could be too much for the Morgans to bear.
While the doctor is attending to the mother, the nurse places the baby under the bed among dirty newspapers. After assuring himself that the mother is safe, the doctor looks for the baby. Finding it under the bed, he at once pulls it out. It was a boy, perfectly formed. The body was warm, but was not breathing. At once, the doctor sets to revive the child's breath. After half an hour's terrible effort, he is at last successful. He thanks God and hands the child to the nurse. While going in the street, he keeps thinking, "I have done something; oh, God! I have done something real at last." The whole description of the child's birth is full of deep pathos.
यह लेख ए० जे० क्रोनिन के उपन्यास, 'दि सिटेडल' (1937), में से लिया गया है। इस में यह बताया गया है कि किस
तरह एक युवा डॉक्टर एक बच्चे को पुनर्जीवित करता है जिसे मृतजात मान कर फेंक दिया जाता है। जोअ मार्गन तथा
उसकी पत्नी एक अधेड़ आयु के पति-पत्नी हैं। उनका विवाह हुए बीस वर्ष हो गए हैं, किन्तु अभी तक उनका कोई
बच्चा नहीं हुआ है। अब श्रीमती मार्गन का पहला बच्चा होने वाला है। उसका पति और उसकी मां दोनों ही बहुत
घबराए हुए हैं क्योंकि बच्चे का जन्म समय से पूर्व होने वाला है। एन्ड्रयु नाम के एक युवा डॉक्टर को बुलाया
जाता है। डॉक्टर को बच्चे के जन्म में कड़ी मेहनत करनी पड़ती है। जब बच्चे का जन्म होता है तो वह मृतजात
प्रतीत होता है। यह सदमा इतना बड़ा हो सकता था कि मार्गन परिवार के लिए सहन करना असम्भव हो जाता। जबकि
डॉक्टर मां की तरफ ध्यान दे रहा होता है, नर्स बच्चे को चारपाई के नीचे गन्दे अखबारों में रख देती है। यह
निश्चित हो जाने के बाद कि मां सुरक्षित है, डॉक्टर बच्चे को ढूंढने लगता है। इसे चारपाई के नीचे देख कर वह
तुरन्त इसे बाहर निकालता है। यह एक लड़का था, जिसके सभी अंग पूरी तरह बने हुए थे। शरीर गर्म था, किन्तु यह
सांस नहीं ले रहा था। तुरन्त डॉक्टर बच्चे को पुनर्जीवित करने के लिए लग जाता है। आधे घण्टे की कड़ी मेहनत
के बाद वह अन्त में सफल हो जाता है। वह ईश्वर का धन्यवाद करता है और बच्चा नर्स को पकड़ा देता है। गली में
जाता हुआ वह सोचता चला जाता है, "मैंने कुछ कर दिखाया है: हे ईश्वर ! मैंने असल में आखिर कुछ कर दिखाया है।"
बच्चे के जन्म का पूरा वर्णन गहरी करुणा से भरा हुआ है।
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Summary in English
Andrew Manson is a young doctor. He is newly out of medical school. He has just begun his medical practice in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. He is an assistant to Dr Edward Page. Joe Morgan is a resident of this town. He and his wife, who have been married for twenty years, are expecting their first child. They have requested Andrew Manson for his services in the delivery of the child.
Andrew Manson has spent a disappointing evening with his girlfriend, Christine. It is about midnight when Andrew Manson reaches Bryngower. Joe Morgan is waiting for him. Manson takes his bag and they set out for Morgan's house. When they reach the house,
Morgan does not go inside. He is full of tension and keeps walking in the street. Manson goes in.
Morgan's mother, who is a woman of seventy years, is beside the patient, that is, Morgan's wife. There
is still some time to childbirth. Morgan's mother asks Manson if he would like a cup of tea. Manson sits
in the kitchen and takes tea.
An hour later, he goes upstairs, notes the progress of the case and comes down once again. While sitting there, Manson remembers his disappointing evening with his girlfriend Christine. She quarrelled with him at Cardiff station. There is a conflict between his doubting mind and the loving heart. This episode still troubles his mind. He remembers his friends who too had faced disappointment in love. Bramwell was devoted to a woman but she deceived him. Edward Page loves Blodwen who is a shrewish woman. Denny is living unhappily apart from his wife.
He is lost in his thoughts, suddenly the old woman tells him that the time for delivery has come. She
asks him to be careful while giving chloroform to the mother lest it should harm the baby. It is half
past three. He goes upstairs, after an hour of labour, the child is born. But Manson is horrified to
find that the child is lifeless. It is stillborn. He does not know whether to attend to the mother first
or try to revive the child first. At last, he gave the child to the nurse and attended to the mother. He
gives an injection to the mother and her condition improves.
Then he thinks of the child. The nurse, thinking it to be dead, has put the child under the bed. He takes out the child. He shouts at the nurse to bring cold and hot water. He lays the child on the blanket and begins the special method of respiration. Then he puts the child alternatively in the cold and hot water basins. He remembers the couple's longing for a child and their mother's great desire for a grandchild.
He works frantically. The nurse asks the doctor not to try to revive the child as it is stillborn. But Manson does not listen to her. He has been labouring for half an hour. Now he makes one last effort. He rubs the child with a rough towel, presses hard and releases the little chest with both his hands. Then a miracle happens. The child gives one heave, then another. He redoubles his efforts. Now the child is gasping deeper and deeper. The white skin is slowly turning pink. Then comes the child's cry. Andrew Manson hands the child to the nurse. The mother is still under the effect of anaesthesia. Manson feels relieved. He tells the nurse that he will fetch his bag later and goes out. He finds Joe Morgan standing on the pavement with a tense face. Manson gives him the news of the childbirth. By now, it is already morning. Although Manson is extremely tired, he is extremely satisfied with himself as feels that he has done something real at last.
Summary in Hindi
एंड्रयु मेन्सन एक युवा डॉक्टर है। वह कुछ समय पहले ही मैडिकल स्कूल से पास होकर आया है। उसने हाल में ही अपनी प्रैक्टिस Blacnelly नाम के वैश खनिक शहर में आरंभ की है। वह डॉ० एडवर्ड पेज का एक सहायक है। जो मॉरगन इस शहर का रहने वाला है। उसका एवं उसकी पत्नी, जिनकी शादी को बीस साल हो गए हैं, का पहला बच्चा होने वाला है। उन्होंने बच्चे के प्रसव के लिए एंडयु मैन्सन को उसकी सेवाओं के लिए प्रार्थना की है। एंड्रयु मेन्सन की वह शाम उसकी प्रेमिका क्रिस्टीन के साथ बड़ी निराशाजनक ढंग से बीती है।
जब एंड्रयु मैन्तन Bryngower पहुंचता है तो लगभग आधी रात गई है। जोअ मॉरगन उसका इंतजार कर रहा है। मैन्सन
अपना बैग लेता है और वे मॉरगन के घर की ओर चल देते हैं। जब वे घर पहुंचते हैं तो मॉरगन अंदर नहीं जाता। वह
तनाव से भरा हुआ है और गली में घूमता रहता है। मेन्सन अंदर जाता है। मॉरगन की माता, जो सत्तर साल की है,
रोगी अर्थात् मॉरगन की पत्नी के पास है। बच्चे के जन्म अभी भी कुछ देरी है। मॉरगन की माता मैन्सन से पूछती
है कि क्या वह चाय लेगा मैन्सन रसोई में बैठकर चाय पीता है।
एक घंटे के बाद वह ऊपर जाता है, केस की प्रगति को देखता है और एक बार फिर नीचे आ जाता है। वहाँ बैठे-बैठे मैन्सन को अपनी सहेती क्रिस्टीन के साथ बिताई निराशापूर्ण शाम याद आती है। वह उसके साथ कार्डिफ स्टेशन पर लड़ी थी। उसके संशयपूर्ण दिमाग एवं प्यार भरे दिल के बीच में संघर्ष है। यह घटना अभी भी उसके दिमाग को परेशान कर रही है। उसे अपने वे मित्र याद आते हैं जिनको भी प्यार में निराशा हाथ लगी थी। प्रेमवैल को एक औरत से बहुत प्यार था मगर उसने उसे धोखा दिया था। एडवर्ड पेज कोन से प्यार है जो कि एक चालाकपूर्ण स्त्री है। डैनी अपनी पत्नी से अलग होकर दुःखी रूप से रह रहा है।
वह अपने विचारों में खोया हुआ है। अचानक बूढ़ी स्त्री उसे बताती है कि जन्म का समय निकट आ गया है। वह उसे कहती है कि वह मां को बेहोशी की दवा देते समय सावधान रहे क्योंकि कहीं बच्चे को इससे नुकसान न पहुँचे। साढ़े तीन का समय हो गया है। वह ऊपर जाता है। एक घंटे की मेहनत के बाद बच्चे का जन्म होता है। मगर मैन्सन यह देखकर घबरा जाता है कि बच्चा निर्जीव है। यह मरा हुआ पैदा हुआ है। उसे यह पता नहीं चलता कि वह पहले मां की तरफ ध्यान दे या पहले बच्चे को जीवित करने का प्रयत्न करे। आखिर, वह बच्चा नर्स को देता है और मां की तरफ ध्यान देता है। वह मां को एक इंजैक्शन लगाता है और उसकी हालत सुधरती है।
तब वह बच्चे के बारे में सोचता है। बच्चे को मरा समझकर नर्स ने उसे चारपाई के नीचे रख दिया है। वह बच्चे को ले लेता है। वह नर्स को चिल्लाकर कहता है कि वह गर्म एवं ठंडा पानी लाए। वह बच्चे को कंबल पर लिटा देता है और सांस देने के विशेष तरीके का प्रयोग करता है। तब वह बच्चे को बारी-बारी ठंडे एवं गर्म पानी के बर्तनों में डालता है। उसे याद आता है कि दंपति की बच्चे के लिए एवं उनकी मां को पोते के लिए कितनी लालसा है।
वह अंधाधुंध काम करता है। नर्स डॉक्टर को कहती है कि वह बच्चे को जीवित करने का प्रयत्न न करे क्योंकि वह मर चुका है। मगर मैन्सन उसकी बात नहीं सुनता। वह आधे घंटे से मेहनत कर रहा है। अब वह एक आखिरी प्रयत्न करता है। वह बच्चे को खुरदरे तौलिए से रगड़ता है और दोनों हाथों से बच्चे की छाती को दबाता है और छोड़ता है।
तब एक चमत्कार होता है। बच्चा एक सांस लेता और फिर दूसरा वह अपने प्रयत्नों को दुगुना कर देता है। अब बच्चा गहरे एवं अधिक गहरे सांस ले रहा है। उसकी सफेद त्वचा धीरे-धीरे गुलाबी होती जा रही है। फिर बच्चा चीख मारता है। एंड्रयु मैन्सन बच्चा नर्स को दे देता है। मां अभी भी बेहोशी की दवा के प्रभाव में है। मैन्सन को राहत महसूस होती है। वह नर्स को कहता है कि वह अपना बैग बाद में ले जाएगा और बाहर चला जाता है। वह देखता है कि जोअ मॉरगन तनावपूर्ण चेहरे से पटरी पर खड़ा है। मैन्सन उसे बच्चे के जन्म का समाचार देता है। अब तक सुबह हो चुकी है। यद्यपि मैन्सन बहुत अधिक थक गया है फिर भी वह स्वयं से बहुत संतुष्ट है क्योंकि वह महसूस करता है कि आखिर उसने सचमुच कुछ वास्तविक कार्य किया है।
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Full Explanation with Word Meanings
THOUGH it was nearly midnight when Andrew reached Bryngower, he found Joe Morgan waiting for him, walking up and down with short steps between the closed surgery and the entrance to the house. At the sight of him the burly driller's face expressed relief.
यद्यपि लगभग आधी रात हो चुकी थी जब एन्ड्रयू द्रिनगोवर पहुंचा, उसने पाया कि जो मार्गन उसकी प्रतीक्षा कर रहा था, वह छोटे-छोटे कदमों से उसके दवाखाने और घर के रास्ते के बीच घूम रहा था। उसे देखकर उसके चेहरे पर राहत दिखाई दी। "ओह, डॉक्टर, मुझे आपको देखकर प्रसन्नता हुई।
"Eh, Doctor, I'm glad to see you. I been back and forward here this last hour. The missus wants ye —before time, too." Andrew, abruptly recalled from the contemplation of his own affairs, told Morgan to wait. He went into the house for his bag, then together they set out for Number 12 Blaina Terrace. The night air was cool and deep with quiet mystery. Usually so perceptive, Andrew now felt dull and listless. He had no premonition that this night call would prove unusual, still less that it would influence his whole future in Blaenelly.
The two men walked in silence until they reached the door of Number 12, then Joe drew up short. "I'll not come in," he said, and his voice showed signs of strain. "But, man, I know ye'll do well for us."
में पिछले एक घण्टे से यहां चक्कर काट रहा हूं। मेरी पत्नी को तुम्हारी आवश्यकता है- समय से पहले प्रसव होने वाला है।" एन्ड्रयू, अचानक ही अपने स्वयं के विचारों के ध्यान से निकला, मार्गन को प्रतीक्षा करने के लिए कहा। वह अपना बैग लेने के लिए घर के अन्दर गया, फिर वे दोनों बलेना टैरेस नम्बर 12 के लिए चल दिए। दोनों आदमी चुप्पी के साथ चलते रहे जब तक वे नम्बर 12 के दरवाजे तक नहीं पहुंचे, तब जो रूक गया। "मैं अन्दर नहीं आऊंगा" उसने कहा, और उसकी आवाज में चिन्ता के संकेत दिखाई दिए। "परन्तु मैं जानता हूँ कि तुम हमारे लिए अच्छा करोगे।"
Inside, a narrow stair led up to a small bedroom, clean but poorly furnished, and lit only by an oil lamp. Here Mrs Morgan's mother, a tall, grey-haired woman of nearly seventy, and the stout, elderly midwife waited beside the patient, watching Andrew's expression as he moved about the room. "Let me make you a cup of tea, Doctor, bach," said the former quickly, after a few moments. Andrew smiled faintly. He saw that the old woman, wise in experience, realised there must be a period of waiting that, she was afraid he would leave the case, saying he would return later. "Don't fret, mother, I'll not run away." Down in the kitchen he drank the tea which she gave him. Overwrought as he was, he knew he could not snatch even an hour's sleep if he went home. He knew, too, that the case here would demand all his attention. A queer lethargy of spirit came upon him. He decided to remain until everything was over.
An hour later he went upstairs again, noted the progress made, came down once more, sat by the kitchen
fire. It was still, except for the rustle of a cinder in the grate and the slow tick-tock of the wall
clock. No, there was another sound —the beat of Morgan's footsteps as he paced in the street outside.
The old woman opposite him sat in her black dress, quite motionless, her eyes strangely alive and wise,
probing, never leaving his face.
His thoughts were heavy, muddled. The episode he had witnessed at Cardiff station still obsessed him morbidly. He thought of Bramwell, foolishly devoted to a woman who deceived him sordidly, of Edward Page, bound to the shrewish Blodwen, of Denny, living unhappily, apart from his wife. His reason told him that all these marriages were dismal failures. It was a conclusion which, in his present state, made him wince. He wished to consider marriage as an idyllic state; yes, he could not otherwise consider it with the image of Christine before him. Her eyes, shining towards him, admitted no other conclusion. It was the conflict between his level, doubting mind and his overflowing heart which left him resentful and confused. He let his chin sink upon his chest, stretched out his legs, stared broodingly into the fire. He remained like this so long, and his thoughts were so filled with Christine, that he started when the old woman opposite suddenly addressed him. Her meditation had pursued a different course.
अन्दर, एक तंग सीढ़ी एक छोटे शयनकक्ष की ओर जाती थी, जो साफ परन्तु गरीबी वाले ढंग से सजा हुआ था, और जिसमें एक तेल वाले लैम्प की ही रोशनी थीं। यहां श्रीमती मार्गन की मां, एक लम्बी, भूरे बालों वाली लगभग सत्तर वर्षीय औरत, और हष्ट-पुष्ट बुजुर्ग दाई मरीज के पास बैठी प्रतीक्षा करते हुए एन्ड्रयू के हाव-भाव देख रही थी जब वह कमरे में घूम रहा था। "में आपके लिए चाय बनाती हूं, डॉक्टर, अच्छा," महिला ने शीघ्रता से कहा, कुछ क्षणों के बाद एन्ड्रयू हल्का-सा मुस्कुराया। उसने बूढ़ी औरत गरे देखा जो अनुभव की वजह से बुद्धिमान थी, उसने महसूस कर लिया था कि यह यह कहकर लौट सस्ता था कि प्रतीक्षा में समय लग जाएगा, यह बाद में वापिस आ जाएगा "डरो मत, गां, मैं नहीं भागूंगा।" नीचे रसोईघर में बैठकर उसने पाय पी जी उसे उसने दी। वह जानता था कि यदि वह घर गया तो वह एक घण्टे की नींद भी नहीं ले पायेगा वह यह भी जानता था कि यहां इस केस को उसका पूरा ध्यान चाहिए था। एक घण्टे बाद वह फिर से सीढ़ियां चढ़ा, प्रगति का निरीक्षण किया, एक बार फिर नीचे आया, रसोईघर में आग के समीप बैठ गया। सब शान्त था, चूहे में जल रही अंगारियों की आवाज और दीवार की धीमी टिक-टिक आवाज को छोड़कर नहीं, यहाँ एक अन्य आवाज भी थी बाहर घूमते हुए मार्गन के पैरों की आवाज उसके विचार उदासीपूर्ण और उलझन से भरे हुए थे। वह पटना जो उसने कारडिफ स्टेशन पर देखी थी यह अभी तक उसके दिमाग पर छाई हुई थी। उसने ग्रामपैल के बारे में सोचा, जो एक महिला के प्रति दीवाना था जिसने उसे पटिया तरीके से धोखा दिया था, उसे एडवर्ड पेज की याद आ रही थी जो एक चुड़ैल जैसी बलाडवेन नामक औरत से जुड़ा हुआ था, डैनी के बारे में, जो अपनी पत्नी से अलग होकर अप्रसन्नता का जीवन व्यतीत कर रहा था। उसका कारण उसे बता रहा था कि ये सभी विवाह निराशापूर्ण रूप से असफल रहे थे। यह एक निष्कर्ष का जो उसकी वर्तमान स्थिति में उसे परेशान कर रहा था। वह विवाह को आनन्ददायक स्थिति की तरह सोचना चाहता था, हो, वह इसे दूसरी तरह मानना ही नहीं चाहता था क्योंकि क्रिस्टिन की कल्पना उसके सामने थी। उसकी आंखें, जो उसकी ओर देखरची थी, कोई निष्कर्ष निकाल ही | सकती थी। चौक गया जब उसके विपरीत बैठी महिला ने उसे पुकारा। उसका ध्यान एक अलग दिशा में केन्द्रित था "
| No. | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excerpt | extract from a book |
| 2 | surgery | (here) hospital |
| 3 | entrance | enter(प्रवेश) |
| 4 | Burly | fat |
| 5 | abruptly | at once |
| 6 | contemplation | thought |
| 7 | farurt | quiet calm |
| 8 | perceptive | having insight |
| 9 | listless | lazy |
| 10 | premonition | intuition |
| 11 | influence | impression(प्रभाव।) |
| 12 | Stout | fat |
| 13 | midwife | nurse |
| 14 | queer | strange |
| 15 | lethargy | laziness |
| 16 | rustle | a sound of papers or leave |
| 17 | cinder | a burning wood |
| 18 | grate | hearth |
| 19 | muddled | puzzled |
| 20 | episode | incident |
| 21 | obsess | confuse |
| 22 | morbidly | wrongly (गलत ढंग से) |
| 23 | sordidly | boringly (बोरियत से) |
| 24 | shrewish | clever (चालाक) |
| 25 | dismal | waste(बेकार) |
| 26 | Idyllie | beautiful |
| 27 | conflict | struggle |
| 28 | meditation | contemplation(चिंतन) |
| 29 | angry | नाराज |
| 30 | broodingly | contemplating |
"Susan said not to give her the chloroform if it would harm the baby. She's awful set upon this child, Doctor, bach." Her old eyes warmed at a sudden thought. She added in a low tone: "Ay, we all are, I fancy." He collected himself with an effort. "It won't do any harm, the anaesthetic," he said kindly. "They'll be all right." Here the nurse's voice was heard calling from the top landing. Andrew glanced at the clock, which now showed half-past three. He rose and went up to the bedroom. He perceived that he might now begin his work. An hour elapsed. It was a long, harsh struggle. Then, as the first streaks of dawn strayed past the broken edges of the blind, the child was born, lifeless.
As he gazed at the still form a shiver of horror passed over Andrew. After all that he had promised! His face, heated with his own exertions, chilled suddenly. He hesitated, torn between his desire to attempt to resuscitate the child, and his obligation towards the mother, who was herself in a desperate state. The dilemma was so urgent he did not solve it consciously. Blindly, instinctively, he gave the child to the nurse and turned his attention to Susan Morgan who now lay collapsed, almost pulseless, and not yet out of the ether, upon her side. His haste was desperate, a frantic race against her ebbing strength. It took him only an instant to smash a glass ampule and inject the medicine. Then he flung down the hypodermic syringe and worked unsparingly to restore the flaccid woman. After a few minutes of feverish effort, her heart strengthened; he saw that he might safely leave her. He swung round, in his shirt sleeves, his hair sticking to his damp brow.
"Where's the child?" The midwife made a frightened gesture. She had placed it beneath the bed. In a flash Andrew knelt down. Fishing amongst the sodden newspapers below the bed, he pulled out the child. A boy, perfectly formed. The limp, warm body was white and soft as tallow1. The cord, hastily slashed, lay like a broken stem. The skin was of a lovely texture, smooth and tender. The head lolled on the thin neck. The limbs seemed boneless.
सूसन ने कहा था कि उसे बेहोशी की दवा न दी जाए यदि इससे बच्चे को कोई खतरा हो यह इस बच्चे को लेकर डरी हुई है, डॉक्टर, सब" उसकी बूढ़ी आंखें एक अचानक आए विचार से चमक उठी। उसने धीमे स्वर में कहा: "मेरा मानना है कि हम सब डरे हुए हैं।" "सुन्न करने की दवाई से कोई नुक्सान नहीं होगा," उसने दयालुता से कहा। "वे ठीक हो जायेंगे।" तभी ऊपर से नर्स की आवाज सुनाई दी जो उसे बुला रही थी। एन्ड्र्यू ने पड़ी की ओर देखा, जिसमें अब साढ़े तीन बजे थे। यह उठा और शयनकक्ष की ओर गया। उसे अन्दाजा हो गया कि उसे अब अपना कार्य आरम्भ कर देना चाहिए। एक घण्टा बीत गया। यह एक लम्बा व कठिन संघर्ष था तब जब सूर्य की पहली किरण परदे के किनारे से दिखाई दी, बच्चे का जन्म हुआ था, निर्भीय बच्चा जब उसने उसे देखा एन्ड्रयू पर डर की कंपकंपी छा गई। आखिरकार उसने वायदा किया था। वह रूक गया क्योंकि यह उलझन में था बच्चे को बचाने का प्रयास करने की दवा और मां के प्रति उसकी जिम्मेवारी जो स्वयं एक निराशाजनक स्थिति में थी दुविधा इतनी अधिक थी कि इसे तुरन्त हल करना था इसलिए उसने तर्क का सहारा नहीं लिया। आंखें बन्द करके बिना सोचे-समझे, उसने बच्चा नर्स को दिया और अपना ध्यान सूसन मार्गन की ओर मोड़ा जो अभी तक बेहोश थी, लगभग नसरहित, और अभी तक बेहोशी की दवा से बाहर नहीं आई थी, करवट लिए हुई थी। उसे केवल एक क्षण लगा उसने शीशे की शीशी ने तोड़ा और दवाई का टीका लगा दिया। तब उसने टीके की सिरिंज फेंक दी और कमजोर महिला को ठीक करने में लग गया। कुछ मिनटों के उत्तेजित प्रयास के बाद उस औरत का दिल ताकत पकड़ गया, उसने देखा कि यह उसे सुरक्षित रूप से छोड़ सकता है। बच्चा कहाँ है?" दाई ने डरते हुए किया उसने इसे बिस्तर के नीचे रख दिया था बिस्तर के नीचे गीले अखबारों में उसने बच्चे को टटोला, उसने बच्चे को खींच कर निकाला। निस्तेज गर्म शरीर सफेद और चरखी की तरह नर्म था चमड़ी की संरचना सुन्दर सपाट और कोमल थी। पतली गर्दन पर सिर लटक रहा था।
Still kneeling, Andrew stared at the child with a haggard frown. The whiteness meant only one thing:
asphyxia, pallida, and his mind, unnaturally tense, raced back to a case he once had seen in the
Samaritan, to the treatment that had been used. Instantly he was on his feet. "Get me hot water and cold
water," he threw out to the nurse. "And basins too. Quick! Quick!" "But, Doctor—" she faltered, her eyes
on the pallid body of the child. "Quick! " he shouted.
Snatching a blanket, he laid the child upon it and began the special method of respiration. The basins arrived, the ewer, the big iron kettle. Frantically he splashed cold water into one basin; into the other he mixed water as hot as his hand could bear. Then, like some crazy juggler, he hurried the child between the two, now plunging it into the icy, now into the steaming bath. Fifteen minutes passed. Sweat was now running into Andrew's eyes, blinding him. One of his sleeves hung down, dripping. His breath came pantingly. But no breath came from the lax body of the child.
A desperate sense of defeat pressed on him, a raging hopelessness. He felt the midwife watching him in stark consternation, while there, pressed back against the wall where she had all the time remained — her hand pressed to her throat, uttering no sound, her eyes burning upon him —was the old woman. He remembered her longing for a grandchild, as great as had been her daughter's longing for this child. All dashed away now; futile, beyond remedy.
The floor was now a draggled mess. Stumbling over a sopping towel, Andrew almost dropped the child, which was now wet and slippery in his hands, like a strange, white fish. "For mercy's sake, Doctor," whimpered the midwife. "It's stillborn." Andrew did not heed her. Beaten, despairing, having laboured in vain for half an hour, he still persisted in one last effort, rubbing the child with a rough towel, crushing and releasing the little chest with both his hands, trying to get breath into that limp body.
सफेदी का केवल एक अर्थ था श्वासरोध, पीलिया और उसका दिमाग, जो अस्वाभाविक रूप से परेशान था, तुरन्त उस मरीज की तरफ लग गया जो उसने एक बार समारिटन में देखा था, उस समय जिस उपचार का प्रयोग किया गया था। उसी पल वह अपने पैरों पर खड़ा हो गया। "मुझे गरम पानी और ठण्डा पानी लाकर दो," उसने नर्स से कहा "परन्तु डॉक्टर वह लड़खड़ाई "जल्दी!" वह चिल्लाया। एक कम्बल खींचते हुए उसने बच्चे को इसमें लपेटा और सांस देने की विशेष विधि आरम्भ की चितमधियां आ गई, जग, बड़ी लोहे की केतली तेजी से उसने एक चिलमधी में ठण्डा पानी डाला; दूसरे में उसने इतना गर्म पानी मिलाया जितना की उसका हाथ सहन कर सकता था। फिर किसी पागल मदारी की तरह, वह शीघ्रता से बच्चे को दोनों में डालने लगा, एक बार ठंडे|
पानी में, फिर गर्म पानी में पन्द्रह मिनट बीत गए। उसकी सांस फूल रही थी। परन्तु बच्चे के ढीले शरीर में कोई
सांस नहीं आई थी। "ईश्वर के लिए, डॉक्टर," दाई ने पिनपिनाते हुए कहा। "यह मृत पैदा हुआ है।" एन्ड्रयू ने
उसकी ओर ध्यान नहीं दिया। टूटा हुआ, निराश हुआ, पिछले आधे घण्टे से व्यर्थ का प्रयास करता हुआ, वह अभी भी एक
अन्तिम प्रयास करने में लगा रहा, एक कठोर तौलिये से बच्चे के शरीर को रगड़ता हुआ, उसकी छोटी-सी छाती को अपने
दोनों हाथों से दबाते और छोड़ते हुए, उसके निस्तेज शरीर में सांस डालने का प्रयास कर रहा था।
| No. | Word | Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fancy | imagine |
| 2 | anesthetica | medicine |
| 3 | glanced | saw |
| 4 | clapsed | bygone (बीत गया) |
| 5 | streaks | rays (किरणें) |
| 6 | shiver | tremble (कांपना) |
| 7 | horror | fear (भय) |
| 8 | exertions hardwork | (मेहनत) |
| 9 | resuscitate | to give artificial breathing (कृत्रिम सांस देना) |
| 10 | obligation | duty (कर्त्तव्य) |
| 11 | desperate | disappoint (निराश) |
| 12 | dilemma | confusion (दुविधा) |
| 13 | instinctively | nature (प्रवृत्ति से) |
| 14 | collapse | fallen (गिरना) |
| 15 | frantic | recklessly (अंधा-धुंध) |
| 16 | ebbing | reducing restore to bring back in first position(कम होना) |
| 17 | flaccid | weak (कमजोर) |
| 18 | frightened | terrified (भयभीत) |
| 19 | gesture | pointed (इशारा) |
| 20 | limp | lazy (सुस्त) |
| 21 | tallow | fat (चर्बी) |
| 22 | slashed | cut (काटा) |
| 23 | stem | hard (कठोर) |
| 24 | texture | colour (रंग) |
| 25 | lolled | hanged (लटका) |
| 26 | Kneeling | bending (झुकते हुए) |
| 27 | haggard | rough (खुरदरा) |
| 28 | tired (थका हुआ) | asphyxia |
| 29 | suffocation (दम घुटना) | instantly |
| 30 | at once (एकदम) | faltered |
| 31 | corffused (हड़बड़ाई) | pallid |
| 32 | yellow (पीला) | snatching |
| 33 | taking (लेना) | respiration |
| 34 | breath (सांस) | basins |
| 35 | vase (बर्तन) | splashedput |
| 36 | (डाला) | crazy |
| 37 | mad | sweat |
| 38 | perspiration (पसीना) | lax |
| 39 | loose (ढीला) | desperate |
| 40 | disappoint (निराश) | defeat |
| 41 | lose (हार) | starkinstantly |
| 42 | (एकदम) | consternation |
| 43 | disappoint (निराशा) | futile |
| 44 | waste (व्यर्थ) | remedy |
| 45 | treatment (इलाज) | draggled |
| 46 | pulled (खींचा) | whimpered |
| 47 | slightly | weeping (हल्के से रोना) |
| 48 | persisted | stressed (जोर देना) |
And then, as by a miracle, the pigmy chest, which his hands enclosed, gave a short, convulsive heave,
another… and another… Andrew turned giddy. The sense of life, springing beneath his fingers after all
that unavailing striving, was so exquisite it almost made him faint. He redoubled his efforts
feverishly. The child was gasping now, deeper and deeper. A bubble of mucus came from one tiny nostril,
a joyful iridescent bubble. The limbs were no longer boneless. The head no longer lay back spinelessly.
The blanched skin was slowly turning pink. Then, exquisitely, came the child's cry.
"Dear Father in heaven," the nurse sobbed hysterically. "It's come —it's come alive." Andrew handed her the child. He felt weak and dazed. About him the room lay in a shuddering litter: blankets, towels, basins, soiled instruments, the hypodermic syringe impaled by its point in the linoleum, the ewer knocked over, the kettle on its side in a puddle of water. Upon the huddled bed the mother still dreamed her way quietly through the anaesthetic. The old woman still stood against the wall. But her hands were together, her lips moved without sound. She was praying.
Mechanically Andrew wrung out his sleeve, pulled on his jacket. "I'll fetch my bag later, nurse." He went downstairs, through the kitchen into the scullery3. His lips were dry. At the scullery he took a long drink of water. He reached for his hat and coat. Outside he found Joe standing on the pavement with a tense, expectant face. "All right, Joe," he said thickly. "Both all right." It was quite light. Nearly five o'clock.
A few miners were already in the streets: the first of the night shift moving out. As Andrew walked with
them, spent and slow, his footfalls echoing with the others under the morning sky, he kept thinking
blindly, oblivious to all other work he had done in Blaenelly, "I've done something; oh, God! I've done
something real at last."
और फिर, एक चमत्कार के द्वारा, छोटी-सी छाती, जो उसके हाथों ने पकड़ी हुई थी, उसमें से अचानक एक छोटा-सा सांस निकला, दूसरा और दूसरा एन्ड्रयू को चक्कर आने लगा। उसकी उंगलियों के नीचे जीवन का अहसास धड़क रहा था, जो इतना उत्तेजित करने वाला था कि वह लगभग बेहोश होने वाला था। उसने अपने प्रयासों को पुनः दोगुणा कर दिया। बच्चा अब गहराई और गहराई से हांफने लगा। एक छोटी-सी नाक में से झिल्ली का एक बुलबुला निकला, एक प्रसन्नताभरा रंगबिरंगा बुलबुला बाजुएं अब हड्डीरहित नहीं थी। सिर अब पीछे की ओर नहीं गिर रहा था। सफेद पड़ी खाल अब धीरे-धीरे गुलाबी हो रही थी। फिर, सुन्दर रूप से, बच्चे की चीख निकली। "हे परमात्मा स्वर्ग में है," नर्स ने प्रसन्नता से सिसकियां लेते हुए कहा। "यह आ गया है यह जीवित आ गया है।" एन्ड्रयू ने बच्चा उसे दिया। ढेर लगे बिस्तर के ऊपर मां अभी भी बेहोशी की दवाई के प्रभाव में शान्ति से लेटी हुई सपने ले रही थी। बूढ़ी महिला अभी भी दीवार के सहारे खड़ी हुई थी। परन्तु उसने हाथ जोड़े हुए थे, उसके होंठ बिना आवाज के हिल रहे थे। वह प्रार्थना कर रही थी। "मैं, अपना बैग बाद में ले जाऊंगा, नर्स।" वह सीढ़ियों से नीचे गया, रसोईघर से होता हुआ बर्तन धोने वाली जगह पर गया। उसके होंठ सूख रहे थे। बर्तन धोने वाली जगह पर उसने एक लम्बा घूंट पानी पिया। वह अपना टोप और कोट लेने पहुंचा। बाहर उसने जो को देखा जो तनाव के साथ उम्मीद वाला चेहरा बनाये खड़ा हुआ था। "सब ठीक है, जो," उसने धीरे से कहा। "दोनों ठीक हैं।" हल्की-सी रोशनी हो गई थी। लगभग पांच बजे थे। कुछ खनिक पहले ही गली में थे रात की शिफ्ट वाले लोग छुट्टी करके आ रहे थे। जब एन्ड्र्यू उनके साथ चलता : हुआ जा रहा था, थका हुआ और धीरे-धीरे, उसके पैरों की आवाज दूसरे की आवाजों के साथ प्रातःकालीन आकाश के नीचे गूंज रही थी, वह अचेत रूप से सोच रहा था, निश्चित रूप से बाकी सभी काम जो उसने बलीनेली में किए थे, "मैंने कुछ काम कर दिया है; है, ईश्वर! मैंने अन्त में कुछ वास्तविक काम कर दिया है।"
| No. | Word | Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miracle | unique (चमत्कार) |
| 2 | pigmy | small (छोटा) |
| 3 | convulsive | shakingly (हिलते हुए) |
| 4 | heave | to breathe (सांस लेना) |
| 5 | giddy | having the feeling that everything is turning round (चक्कर आना) |
| 6 | striving | efforting (कोशिश करना) |
| 7 | exquisite | miracle (शानदार) |
| 8 | mucus | foam (झाग) |
| 9 | iridescent | shiny (चमकीला) |
| 10 | blanched | white (सफेद) |
| 11 | sobbed | to cry noisily |
| 12 | drawing in | (सिसकी ली) |
| 13 | hysterically | like mad (पागलों की तरह) |
| 14 | impale | struck the sharp point of some object (चुभा) |
| 15 | huddled | to crowd together in a small space (दुवका) |
| 16 | wrung | to squeeze (निचोड़ा) |
| 17 | scullery | a place where utensil are washed (बर्तन धोने का स्थान) |
| 18 | pavement | a subway path (पटरी) |
| 19 | echoing | resounding(गूंजता हुआ) |
| 20 | oblivious | unknown (अनजान) |
Exercises
Question and Answers
See Video Of Exercises of the Chapter
Q.1. What do you know about the life of Joe Morgan and his wife?
Ans. Joe Morgan and his wife are of middle-aged couple. It is twenty years since they married. But they
have
no child so far. Now Mrs. Susan Morgan is going to expect her first child. But she is feeling nervous
because the delivery of the child is going to be before time.
Q.2. Who was Andrew Manson?
Ans. Andrew Manson was a doctor of a young age. He had just passed out of a medical school. He had
joined as
an assistant to Dr Edward Page. The surgery, where he worked was established in the small welsh town of
Blaenelly.
Q.3. What type of man was Joe Morgan?
Ans. Joe Morgan was a man of Bryngower town. He was sturdy and robust. He worked as driller at the
mines. He lived with his wife named Susan Morgan at 12, Blaina Terrace.
Q.4. What did Andrew find when he reached his house at midnight?
Ans. When Andrew reached his house at midnight, he found that Joe Morgan was waiting for him eagerly.
With short steps, he was walking up and down. When he saw Andrew, he got a relief expression on his
face.
Q.5. What did Andrew find, when he entered the bed room of the Morgan's
house?
Ans. When Andrew entered the bedroom of the Morgan's house, he found that it was a small bedroom having
cleanliness. But it was poorly furnished. An oil lamp was burning in it. Both Mrs. Morgan's mother and a
midwife were waiting beside the patient's bed.
Q.6. Describe the appearance of Mrs. Morgan's mother.
or
What kind of lady was Susan Morgan's mother?
Ans. Mrs. Morgan's mother was very tall. She was almost seventy years old. She had grey hair. But she
was wise and knew the pain of her daughter who was going to bear a child. She was sitting with an
elderly midwife near her daughter's bed.
Q.7. Who said "Let me make you a cup of tea, doctor." and why?
Ans. Mrs. Susan Morgan was going to expect a child. But there was some time to wait for the delivery.
Her mother was sitting beside Susan. The doctor Andrew had arrived. But the woman (Susan's mother) was
in fear lest the doctor should leave the case. So, she told him "Let me make you a cup of tea, doctor."
Q.8. What did the doctor said to Susan Morgan's mother, when she told him 'Let me
make you a cup of tea, doctor'?
Ans. When the mother of Susan said to Andrew, that let me make you a cup of tea doctor, Andrew
understands that the woman is in fear lest he should leave the case. So, for a while, he smiled a little
and then said to her, "Do not fret mother, I will not run away from here."
Q.9. What did Andrew remember about Christine his beloved?
Ans. Andrew had a beloved named Christine. He loved her deeply. But one day, he had a quarrel with
Christine at the Cordiff Station. It made Andrew very sad and depress. But later he thought, if his
marriage with Christine would continue full of blissful or not.
Q. 10. How did Andrew feel when a lifeless child was born to Susan Morgan?
Or
What could Andrew not decide when a lifeless child was born to Susan Morgan?
Ans. Susan Morgan gave birth to a baby. But unfortunately, the child was born lifeless. Both Andrew
and Susan were in a desperate state, after knowing the bitter fact. Andrew could not decide if he
should first attend to Susan Morgan or to revive the child.
Q.11. Where did the elderly midwife place the child and why?
Or
What did the midwife do with the child?
Ans. The midwife saw that the child born to Susan Morgan was lifeless. She thought that the child
could not be cured at any rate. So, she placed him among the dirty newspapers, which were lying
under the bed.
Q12. Who was Christine? What sad episode did Andrew remember about her?
Ans. Christine was the girl Andrew loved deeply. But she had quarrelled with him at the Cardiff
station. It had made Andrew very sad. Now a doubt filled his mind if his marriage with Christine
could really be a happy one.
Q.13. Why is Manson shocked when the child is born? What does he do then?
Ans. After an hour of labour, the child is born But Manson is horrified to find that the child is
lifeless. It is still born. He does not know whether to attend to the mother first or try to revive
the child first. At last, he gave the child to the nurse and attended to the mother.
Q14. What could Andrew not decide when the child was born?
Ans. When the child was born, it was lifeless. The mother was also in a desperate state. Andrew
could not decide whether he should first attend to the mother or try to resuscitate the child.
Q15. What special method did Andrew use to revive the child?
Ans. Andrew got two basins. One had cold water in it. The other had hot water. Andrew put the child
into the two basins alternately in quick succession. Thus, he hoped to revive the child's breath.
Q16. How did the child look when it was born?
Ans. The child was perfectly formed. It was a boy. The body was limp and white. It was soft as
tallow. The skin was smooth and tender. The head lolled on the thin neck. The limbs seemed boneless.
Q.17. Are the efforts of Andrew Manson to revive the child successful?
Ans. Manson works hard to revive the child. Then a miracle happens. The child gives one heave, then
another. He redoubles his efforts. Now the child is gasping deeper and deeper. The white skin is
slowly turning pink. Then comes the child's cry.
Q.18. In the end, why is Andrew Manson extremely satisfied with himself?
Ans. Manson tells the nurse that he will fetch his bag later and goes out. He finds Joe Morgan
standing on the pavement with a tense face. Manson gives him the news of the childbirth. Although
Manson is extremely tired, he is extremely satisfied with himself as feels that he has done
something real at last.
Q.19. "There lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a
practising
physician." Discuss.
Ans. It is absolutely right to say that there lies a great difference between textbook medicine and
the world of a practising physician. Because the textbooks medicine is based on the general signs
and symptoms. They can tell us only about the medicines, a doctor should prescribe his patients.
They cannot familiarise us with a human being's emotional problems and individual situations. But in
reality, a physician has to deal with the problems and emotional needs of his patients. Personally,
he has to attend and supervise his patients not with the help of textbook medicine every time. He
has to face and tackle all the problems of his patients himself not by reading the textbook
medicine. There are no ways to cure a patient in a textbook. Only a physician can cure his patient
personally face to face. For example, a lifeless child cannot be saved after reading a textbook
medicine only. There are no ways and cure which will help to revive a child. Only a physician can
revive a life less child by dint of his hard struggle and efforts. Thus, we can say that there lies
a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising physician.
See Video for MCQs of the Chapter
Multiple Choice Questions:
A) A.J. Cornin
B) J.B. Priestley
C) Andrew Manson
D) Edward Page
Q2. Why is the lesson named "Birth"?
A) Because the doctor is specialist in childbirths
B) Because a lot of childbirths take place
C) Because it is about birth of a child
D) Because it talks about philosophy of Life
Q3. After how many years were Joe and Susan blessed with a child?
A) Ten years
B) One year
C) Five years
D) Twenty years
Q4. Who was waiting for Andrew at midnight?
A) Dr Edward
B) Christine
C) Joe Morgan
D) Mrs. Morgan's mother
Q5. Where did Joe Morgan live?
A) Number 11 Blaina Terrace
B) Number 14 Bryngower
C) Number 12 Blaina Terrace
D) Number 12 Bryngower
Q6. Andrew did his medical practice under the assistance of ______.
A) Dr. Page
B) Dr. Morgan
C) Dr. William
D) Dr. Shane
Q7. How does the author describe the bedroom of Joe's house?
A) Well furnished
B) Poorly furnished
C) Dirty
D) Both (B) and (C)
Q8. How has the author described Mrs. Morgan's mother?
A) Wise
B) Grey-haired
C) In her seventies
D) All of the above
Q9. When Andrew approached Susan was accompanied by her mother and _________.
A) Joe
B) father
C) a midwife
D) mother-in-law
Q10. "Don't fret mother I'll not run away." Why did Andrew say this?
A) To reassure Mrs. Morgan's mother
B) To fulfil his obligations
C) To break the silence
D) To handle a critical situation well
Q11. Andrew decided to _____ at Joe's house.
A) sleep
B) study
C) stay
D) eat
Q12. While waiting at Joe's house what did Andrew think about?
A) Mrs. Morgan condition
B) Failed marriages
C) Christine
D) Both (B) and (C)
Q13. What dilemma did doctor Andrew confront?
A) Whether the child could be saved or not
B) Whether the treatment would be successful
C) Whether to attend the child or the mother
D) Whether to inform Joe or not
Q14. In the dilemma he faced what did Andrew does?
A) Check upon Susan first
B) Check upon the child first
C) Ran away
D) Left it to handle to the midwife
Q15. What all things did Andrew use in the treatment?
A) Hot and cold water
B) Basins and towels
C) A blanket
D) All of the above
Q16. How was the new born child?
A) Healthy
B) Lifeless
C) Underweight
D) Anaemic
Q17. Where had the midwife placed the stillborn child?
A) She held the child in her arms
B) Gave him to Susan's mother
C) Under the bed
D) Handed him to Joe
Q18. What did Andrew conclude from the whiteness of the child?
A) That he was dead
B) That he suffered from lack of oxygen
C) That he should be taken to hospital
D) That Andrew couldn't save him
Q19. How did Andrew try to save the still born?
A) Using a special method of respiration
B) Calling Dr Edward
C) Taking him to a hospital
D) Giving him blood
Q20. After trying for fifteen minutes Andrew felt ____.
A) accomplished
B) hopeful
C) hopeless
D) confident
Q21. What did Andrew remember in the middle of ongoing treatment?
A) About his love for Christine
B) Morgan family's longing for a child
C) His time in Samaritan
D) About his obligation as a doctor
Q22. Why did the child become slippery in Andrew's hand?
A) Because of atmosphere in the room
B) Because Andrew was losing his focus
C) Because of constant juggling between waters
D) None of the above
Q23. How long did it take for Andrew's efforts to yield results?
A) Fifteen minutes
B) All efforts went into vain
C) One hour
D) Half an hour
Q24. What does the author refer to as ‘a miracle'?
A) Life getting into the stillborn
B) Morgan family welcoming a child
C) Susan getting consciousness
D) None of the above
Q25. "But her hands were together her lips moved without sound." Who is her?
A) Susan
B) Midwife
C) Mrs. Morgan's mother
D) Not clear from the story
Q26. Why did Andrew get oblivious to all the work he had done in Blaenelly?
A) Because he got all hopeless
B) Because he did something extraordinary that night
C) Because he was leaving Blaenelly
D) Because he got tired
Q27. During the whole incident Joe did not enter the house. Why?
A) Because he was superstitious
B) Because he didn't want to disturb
C) Because he didn't want to see the child
D) Because he was anxious
Q28. Birth of Susan's child was a turning point in Dr Andrew's life. Do you agree?
A) Absolutely
B) Not at all
C) Partially
D) Not clear from the story
Q29. What can you say about Dr Andrew after reading "Birth"?
A) He did not put all his efforts
B) He fulfilled his obligation well as a doctor
C) His skills were not enough
D) He was arrogant
Match your answers with our Answer Key:
1A 2C 3D 4C 5C 6A 7B 8D 9C 10A11C 12D 13C 14A 15D 16B 17C 18B 19A 20C
21C 22C 23D 24A 25C 26B 27B 28A 29B
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