James' workload doubles when Siegfried takes ill during a harsh winter. Among his many patients is Dick Rudd's prized cow, which has an abscess in its throat and is on the brink of chokling to death. Dick is devastated, having risked everything on the animal, leaving James determined to save the animal by any means. Mrs Hall discovers it is James' birthday, and Tristan tries his best to cheer him up by arranging a double date.