Chapter 47 Summary

Mr. Sidlow is a farmer who only calls a veterinarian at the last possible moment, often prolonging his animal's suffering. He has gone through all of the vets in the area and now has no choice but to use the vets at Skedale House. Dr. Farnon usually gets Sidlow's calls, but after a year, Herriot ends up with him.

This call is for a bullock with an obstruction in his throat. When Herriot arrives, he realizes that Sidlow has tried to force the obstruction down, which has ruptured the animal's windpipe. Herriot tells Sidlow that the animal will have to be put down, but Sidlow disagrees. Herriot fills out a form certifying that the meat from the animal is fit for butchering and calls the abattoir to pick up the bullock.

Sometime later, Herriot is called over to the local racetrack to stitch...