Abstract
Professor Shields is correct in suggesting that in my paper dealing with general practice in the 19th century, 1 and in particular on the practice of midwifery by Flinders in Lincolnshire. The evidence that Flinders disliked the practice of midwifery is based on slender evidence. It is in fact only based on some off‐the‐cuff remarks entered in his case book which show his fear of losing a family as patients if he did not deliver the babies. Professor Shields may be right, and it is most likely that Flinders got some sense of satisfaction in some deliveries and little or none in others. This was certainly the case with other general practitioners but direct reference to such feelings in general practice are all too rare.
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