Chapter 39 Summary and Analysis

Haunted by Paul Cotterell's death, Herriot is alarmed when Andrew Vine brings his fox terrier, Digger, into the veterinary clinic because of vision problems. He says that if anything happens to Digger, he'll kill himself. Also a bachelor in his 30s who lives alone, Vine seems a shy, diffident man with a stooped frame and pallid face. An eye exam is inconclusive, although Herriot sees no serious damage to the deeper tissues of his eyes. The veterinarian gives Vine some lotion for Digger's eyes and asks that he return for another exam.

Herriot later observes a dark pigmentation clouding the little dog's eyes, although he still has no clue what the diagnosis is. Herriot treats the eyes with: oxide of mercury, chinosol, zinc sulphide, ichthyol and other measures now considered obsolete; but nothing seems to help. Eventually, Herriot realizes that Digger...