Chapter 27 Summary and Analysis

Driving home on a dark, wet night at 9 p.m., Herriot decides to stop for a pint of beer at the Fox and Hounds pub. The warmth of the light inside helps to assuage his self-pity that he chose such a rigged profession as veterinary medicine. After a few sips, he notices old Albert Close, a retired shepherd, sitting by the fire with his dog, Mick, under his chair. Herriot says hello to Close. The old dog stirs, opens his eyes briefly, then closes them right away. Pus is caked on the eyelids and streams of discharge flow down from Mick's eyes in dark rivulets.

He shouts at the deaf old man, asking how long Mick's eyes have been in that condition. The old man nods, then answers. Mr. Close says the dog just has a cold; but Herriot protests that...