def dget(obj,member):
   """Takes an object and retrieves one of its attributes.

   Note that this is necessary as calling it in the standard way calls the
   __get__() function of member.

   Args:
      obj: A user defined class.
      member: A string giving the name of an attribute of obj.

   Exceptions:
      KeyError: If member is not an attribute of obj.

   Returns:
      obj.member.
   """

   return obj.__dict__[member]