The Use of Force (HSSC - 1) - Lesson No. 7

The Use of Force

Q1. How did the child look by appearance?

Ans: She was an attractive child. There was no expression on her face. She seemed as strong as a heifer in appearance. Her face was flushed and was breathing rapidly. She had magnificent blonde hair, in profusion. She was very healthy and looked like one of those children whose pictures are often reproduced in leaflets and papers.

Q2. Why did the parents keep the sick child in the kitchen?

Ans: The child was suffering from diphtheria which is an serious infectious disease, caused by a bacterium that attacks the membranes of the throat and releases a toxin that damages the heart and the nervous system. The main symptoms are fever, weakness and severe inflammation of the affected membranes. Such a patient is kept at a warm place. That is why the parents kept the sick child in the kitchen where it was warm.

Q3. How did the doctor succeed in examining her throat?

Ans: When the doctor tried to examine the child’s throat, she attacked the doctor’s eyes with her hand clawed. The child’s father put her in his lap and held both her wrists. The doctor grasped her head with his left hand and he got the wooden spatula into her mouth. She gripped the wooden tongue-depressor between her teeth and crushed it badly. Now the doctor again overpowered the child’s neck and jaws. He forced the heavy silver spoon back of her teeth and down her throat till she gagged. The doctor observed that both of her tonsils were covered with diseased membrane. She had diphtheria.

Q4. Describe the feelings of the doctor in his struggle to diagnose the disease.

Ans: In his struggle to diagnose the child, the doctor first asked the child politely to let him examine her throat so as to save her life. The doctor was a very tolerant man but when the child’s mother used the word “hurt”, the doctor minded it and felt upset because it made the girl, who seemed stubborn, much angrier. He felt the use of force necessary to examine her throat. When broke the wooden blade into pieces. At this point the doctor lost his temper but controlled himself and asked for the parents’ help.

Q5. Compare and contrast the conduct of a healthy child and a sick child.

Ans: A healthy child behaves gently and looks happy. A healthy child shows willingness for medical examination and is co-operative. A healthy child did not have symptoms like red face, fast breathing, fever etc. A healthy child is co-operative. On the contrary a sick child looks angry, sensitive and touchy like Mathilda. A sick child has symptoms like red face, fast breathing, fever etc. He or she is irritated and does not cooperate