All Creatures Great & Small

England is at war and the time has come for James and Siegfried to join their military units. Their last day at the practice is a busy one and James is repeatedly called out when he had hopes to spend a last, quiet evening at home with Helen. Siegfried surprises James with a small gift. Mrs. Hall also has a surprise announcement for everyone and Tristan receives shocking news from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

James and Siegfried treat a gypsy family's ailing donkey. It's Christmas-time and Siegfried gets to visit the Hewison farm and a chance to taste Mrs. Hewison's Christmas cake, the best in the district. Only she has a surprise for him this year. Tristan wonders if uncle Herriot has any plans to visit Mrs. Pumphrey, in the hopes of getting another hamper from Fortnum and Mason's. When Tricki Woo falls ill, James decides that the dog needs to spend a few days at Skeldale House. Siegfried mysteriously keeps the front room locked, only to arrange a surprise for a very nosy Tristan.

It's a bad time for the vets and a local farmer when they discover a case of foot and mouth disease. The farmer's stock must be destroyed and a general quarantine is in place for thirty days. Siegfried, who came into contact with the animals confines himself to Skeldale house, meaning James and Tristan must do all of the outside calls. James discovers the power of anesthesia in assisting animals to heal: first with a farmer's dying ewe and then with the Flaxton's pet poodle.