Mrs. Pumphrey thinks the dog's recovery is a "triumph of surgery" because in just two weeks, Tricki had recovered completely and transformed from a weak, lazy dog into a hard-muscled, active animal. When Tricki saw Mrs. Pumphrey, it leaped into her lap and showed affection, which made her so happy that she cried tears of joy. She called it a triumph of surgery to express her gratitude and happiness towards the veterinary surgeon for the successful recovery, even though Tricki did not actually undergo surgery but was treated with proper care, exercise, and diet control at the surgery (veterinary clinic).