# Medicine and Magic explained — The Story of Doctor Dolittle

> Chapter companion for The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting.

## What happens

Polynesia orchestrates a plan for Prince Bumpo to visit the Doctor in prison, seeking to be turned white so he can win the Sleeping Beauty. The Doctor reluctantly mixes a potion that temporarily whitens Bumpo's face, and in return Bumpo provides a ship for escape. After fleeing, the Doctor and his animals are guided home by a massive flock of swallows, while Chee-Chee, Polynesia, and the crocodile remain in Africa.

## Themes in this chapter

### Compassion and Healing

The Doctor reluctantly uses his medical knowledge to help Prince Bumpo, despite ethical concerns about the permanence of the treatment.

### Freedom vs. Captivity

The Doctor and his animals are imprisoned by the King and must use cunning and magic to secure their release and escape.

## Character check-ins

### Doctor Dolittle

Mixes a whitening potion for Prince Bumpo to secure their escape from prison; later expresses regret and concern about the potion's permanence.

### Polynesia

Devises the plan to have Prince Bumpo help them escape; stays behind in Africa as it is her proper home.

### Prince Bumpo

Visits the Doctor secretly, asking to be turned white to win the Sleeping Beauty; provides a ship in exchange for the treatment.

### Chee-Chee

Waits with Polynesia on the rocks near the ship; stays behind in Africa.

### Dab-Dab

Brings a basin for the Doctor's mixture; expresses anger at their imprisonment and criticizes Bumpo's appearance.

### Jip

Scoffs at Bumpo's quest for the Sleeping Beauty; identifies the approaching flock of birds by sound.

## Key lines

> I feel sorry about Bumpo. I am afraid that medicine I used will never last. Most likely he will be as black as ever when he wakes up in the morning—that's one reason why I didn't like to leave the mirror with him. But then again, he might stay white—I had never used that mixture before. To tell the truth, I was surprised, myself, that it worked so well. But I had to do something, didn't I?—I couldn't possibly scrub the King's kitchen for the rest of my life. It was such a dirty kitchen!—I could see it from the prison-window.—Well, well!—Poor Bumpo!

The Doctor regrets his hasty treatment of Prince Bumpo, worrying that the whitening effect may be temporary, but justifies it as necessary to escape the King's dirty kitchen.

_The Doctor's moral conflict about using an untested potion on Bumpo._

> Prince Bumpo, supposing I made your hair a nice blonde color—would not that do instead to make you happy?

The Doctor suggests a less drastic change, offering to dye Bumpo's hair blonde instead of turning his entire face white.

_The Doctor's attempt to find a compromise with Bumpo's request._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xii-medicine-and-magic
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters