# Dr. Slop — The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman character guide > Dr. Slop in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Doctor Slop, Slop, good Dr. Slop **First appearance:** 0004-book-i ## Snapshot The pompous man-midwife whose instruments, opinions, and grudge against Trim make him the novel's most reliable source of disaster. ## Who they are Dr. Slop arrives to deliver Tristram armed with forceps, theories, and a simmering resentment of anyone who questions his expertise. He trades barbs with Yorick and lectures the company on radical heat and moisture while his interventions prove catastrophic. His vanity and clumsiness set the novel's central misfortune in motion and embody the folly of confident systems applied to fragile bodies. ## Relationships ### [Uncle Toby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/uncle_toby) _social_ Dr. Slop is a bumbling, pedantic man-midwife who interacts with Toby mainly during Tristram's birth, with comic tension. ### [Obadiah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/obadiah) _professional_ Obadiah, the Shandy family servant, is sent to fetch Dr. Slop, leading to a comically antagonistic professional encounter. ### [Susannah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/susannah) _professional_ Dr. Slop and Susannah interact during Tristram's difficult birth, with Susannah's panic clashing with Slop's incompetence. ### [Corporal Trim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/corporal_trim) _social_ Trim and Dr. Slop have limited, mostly comic interactions, with Trim's good nature contrasting Slop's irritability. ### [Uncle Toby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/uncle_toby) _social_ Dr. Slop is a bumbling, pedantic man-midwife who interacts with Toby mainly during Tristram's birth, with comic tension. ### [Uncle Toby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/uncle_toby) _social_ Dr. Slop is a bumbling, pedantic man-midwife who interacts with Toby mainly during Tristram's birth, with comic tension. ## In the story ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xviii) The man-midwife and scientific operator who wrote a book on midwifery; he is to be paid five guineas for his consultation. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/vi) Is sent for by Walter Shandy to attend the birth. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/viii) The man-midwife sent for; encountered by Obadiah almost immediately, with a dirty and nearly tragic proof of the meeting. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/ix) Described as a squat, uncourtly figure with a broad back and large belly, riding a small pony; he falls into the mire after a collision with Obadiah. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/x) Enters the parlour covered in mud and blotches after a fall, standing motionless like Hamlet's ghost. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xi) The doctor who has suffered an overthrow and is preparing to deliver Tristram, but has left his instruments behind. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xii) Arrives suddenly, makes a pun about curtains, and is corrected by Toby on fortification terms. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xiii) Speculates that the principle is in a family way. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xiv) Interjects with his own experience of viewing the chariot and dismisses Peireskius's efforts. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xv) Mentioned as having no objection to Trim reading the sermon. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xvi) Expresses no objection to the text but looks angry when Trim's remark puts the audience in good humor. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xvii) Criticizes Trim's comments during the reading and debates sermon styles with Walter. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xviii) Clears up his looks and proposes sending upstairs to check on Mrs. Shandy; argues for greater paternal authority in childbirth. ### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xix) Dr. Slop, the man-midwife whose forceps and writings align with Walter's hypothesis, forming an alliance with Walter. ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/i) Confounded by Uncle Toby's wish, unable to rally his thoughts. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/vii) Stamping, cursing, and damning at Obadiah. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/viii) His green bag of instruments is tied up by Obadiah, requiring patience to unloose. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/ix) Dr. Slop examines his bag and muses on the knots, then is startled by a noise from Mrs. Shandy's room. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/x) Struggles with knots, cuts his thumb, and is given the Ernulphus excommunication to read. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xi) Reads the excommunication curse aloud, defending its severity. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xiii) Has cut his thumb; refuses to go upstairs to the midwife and parodies Uncle Toby's hobbyhorse. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xv) Nearly wins the argument but fumbles with his forceps and squirt. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xvi) Defends his forceps and technique, blaming Toby's grip and suggesting the instrument could safely extract a child. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xvii) Argues with the midwife about the baby's presentation and proceeds to Mrs. Shandy's apartments. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xviii) Mentioned as having recently arrived with Obadiah, marking the short time span that feels long to Walter. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xx) Engaged with the midwife and Mrs. Shandy above stairs. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxiii) Is in the kitchen, puzzling over making a bridge. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxvi) Reported to be in the kitchen making a bridge, though the nature of the bridge is ambiguous. ### [Chapter XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxxviii) Mentioned as being threatened with crucifixion. ### [Chapter XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xli) Referenced in connection with the affair of Ernulphus's curse. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xiii) Referenced as being led into the back parlour by Obadiah. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xvii) Made more of the accident than necessary, contributing to Tristram's ongoing costs. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxvii) Mentioned as the one to send for regarding herbs. ### [Chapter XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxxix) Waddles in just as the corporal was about to begin; diagnoses the boy's condition as a phimosis. ### [Chapter XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xl) Engages in the debate about radical heat and moisture, criticizing Trim's understanding. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xli) Called out to look at a cataplasm he had ordered. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/iii) Engages in a heated argument with Susannah, makes an indecent gesture, and throws a cataplasm in her face after his wig is burned. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/iv) Files a crossbill against Susannah in the parlour and then helps prepare a fomentation. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xiv) Accused by Walter Shandy of exaggerating Susannah's accident for self-promotion. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xx) Left to the full profits of all Tristram's dishonours. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xv) Explains that the blind gut lies between the ilium and colon, and states it is the same in men and women. ### [Chapter XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxxii) Laughs intemperately at the exchange, contributing to the derailment of Walter's discourse. ### [Chapter XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxxiii) Triumphantly declares that virginity fills paradise. ### [Chapter XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxxiv) Jeers at Trim's knowledge of women and is unable to stand Walter's attack on nuns and Beguines. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/x) Mentioned as having been overthrown by Obadiah at the garden wall. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxvi) Dr. Slop is mentioned as having been asked by Mrs. Wadman about Uncle Toby's recovery, but he is unable to give a clear definition. ### [Chapter XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/chapters/xxxiii) Suggests the cow may be barren or that Obadiah's wife may have delivered prematurely, and asks if the child has hair. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters/dr_slop - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tristram_shandy_se/characters