Chapter 8 Summary and Analysis

Mr. Herriot learns a bit of how the English feel about animals. He stops at the home of Miss Stubbs, a bedridden old lady who has three dogs and two cats. Miss Stubbs lives on a small family inheritance, and is assisted by a housekeeper, Mrs. Broadwith. Hanging on the wall, next to her bed, is a simple sign in large capital letters: GOD IS NEAR.

The veterinarian finds that Prince, an Irish Setter crossbreed, is wheezing as a result of profound valvular incompetence. As he moves his stethoscope over the old dog's chest, Herriot hears a symphony of pain emanating from Prince's lungs. He injects the dog with digitalis for his heart, along with morphine for any pain.

For the second part of his visit, Miss Stubbs brings all her animals round the bed where she and Herriot are gathered...