Sherlock Holmes’ Extraordinary Powers of Observation

Moving time! As I was packing my books for the move, I came across my Sherlock Holmes beloved printed editions and found interesting to recall that Sherlock Holmes was inspired by Joseph Bell, a doctor and mentor to Arthur Conan Doyle.

By the way, Joseph Bell served as Queen Victoria’s personal surgeon during her visits to Scotland. 🙂

Bell was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), a justice of the peace, a deputy lieutenant, and a valued expert for Scotland Yard.

Around 1876, in the lecture hall of the University of Edinburgh’s medical school, Dr. Bell’s students watched in astonishment as their revered master performed a brilliant diagnostic demonstration.

“You, my friend, have served in the army!”

“Yes, sir,” replied the man dressed in civilian clothes.

“It hasn’t been long since you left the service.”

“No, sir.”

“You belong to a Highland regiment?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Non-commissioned officer.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You were stationed in Barbados.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You see, gentlemen,” Bell declared, addressing his astonished audience of students, “this is a respectful man who presented himself to us, but he did not remove his hat. This is a customary practice in the army.

Naturally, he would have adapted to civilian life customs if he had left the army some time ago. He exudes a certain authority; he is certainly Scottish.

As for Barbados, he suffers from elephantiasis (a chronic lymphatic swelling), and that is a disease found there, not in Great Britain.”

In the audience, a certain Arthur Conan Doyle, Dr. Bell’s assistant, was feverishly taking notes, meticulously recording the details of the session.

He would never forget the Edinburgh doctor’s signature phrase: “Observe carefully, deduce shrewdly, and confirm with evidence.”

The young medical student was not yet aware, but his diagnostic professor had just provided him with the model for the hero who would bring him future fame as a writer: the detective Sherlock Holmes.

It was in the 19th century that observation and measurement techniques became widespread, and systematic auscultation of patients began. Armed with magnifying glasses, stethoscopes, and measuring tapes, doctors transformed into detectives!

“This Sherlock Holmes does go to extremes with his thirst for exact knowledge,” an old friend confides to Dr. Watson in “A Study in Scarlet.” Going so far as to hit corpses with sticks in the autopsy rooms, I find that rather bizarre.

Hitting corpses! 

Yes, to see to what extent injuries can be inflicted after death.”

This is how Joseph Bell also worked discreetly as a forensic expert. Scotland Yard is said to have consulted him about Jack the Ripper.

However, it was in the Chantrelle case that he made his mark. This notorious Don Juan had taken out a life insurance policy in his wife’s name… who died three months later. Chantrelle claimed it was gas poisoning, and indeed, a heating leak was found in the deceased’s room. But Joseph Bell and his colleague Henry Littlejohn deduced that the woman had been poisoned with opium. In fact, a pharmacist stated that Chantrelle had bought opium from him before the death. He was executed for murder.

The Forensic Medicine Research Institute in Edinburgh has been named after Joseph Bell.

Without Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Bell probably wouldn’t have achieved this level of fame… and without him, the detective likely wouldn’t have come into existence.

 

Beeton’s Annual Magazine

Samuel Orchart Beeton was a 19th Century English publisher, probably most famous for giving the world Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management.

Beeton published many other titles ; Beeton’s Christmas Annual, was the edition that officially went on sale on December 1st, 1887, that carved a place in literary history for the annual. For it contained Arthur Conan Doyle’s first Sherlock Holmes story – A Study in Scarlet.

Now extremely rare, original editions of this annual are in great demand, one being sold at Sotheby’s in 2007 for $156,000.

Ironically, in 1886, Conan Doyle, wrote to the publisher Ward Lock, who had taken over Beeton’s, asking for a percentage on sales of his story. He had sold the copyright to them for £25.

They replied: “We regret to say that we shall be unable to allow you to retain a percentage on the sale of your work as it might give rise to some confusion.

The tale may have to be inserted together with some other in one of our annuals, therefore we must adhere to our original offer of £25 for the complete copyright.”

Sherlock might have detected some guile there!

Source: onthisday.com

 

To your mystery readings!

Until next, all the best,

Janice

Scotiana Team

PS: MairiUna wrote a fantastic and full length article titled: 22 May 1859 : Birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in Edinburgh  and I highly recommend that you check it out!