The idea of producing this book of case histories from general family prac- tice was only a twinkle in the editors' eyes until October 1980, when in a room in the Marriott Hotel in New Orleans, the editors met with John Fry, Joseph Levenstein and Bill Jackson to discuss new book projects. The idea was put to the group, which endorsed it enthusiastically. Encouraged by this and by John Fry's advice, the conception of The Nature of General Family Practice took place. It was agreed that to illustrate the universal nature of general family prac- tice it would be useful to collect case histories...