| On glancing over my notes of the seventy
| |
| | the patient.""Yes Dr Watson", says she.
|
| odd cases in which I have during the last
| |
| | "What you say is true but this is no
|
| eight years studied the methods of my
| |
| | comfort for a women if she has to wait to
|
| friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many
| |
| | find out if she contracts this terrible
|
| tragic, some comic, a large number merely
| |
| | disease before any treatment is given her
|
| strange, but none commonplace; for,
| |
| | and by which time it is already too late.
|
| working as he did rather for the love of
| |
| | That is why my Aunt believes that someone
|
| his art than for the acquirement of
| |
| | like Mr Holmes, the famous detective who
|
| wealth, he refused to associate himself
| |
| | solves cases of crime when all others
|
| with any investigation which did not tend
| |
| | have failed, may best be qualified to
|
| towards the unusual, and even the
| |
| | find the answer."Turning to Holmes, the
|
| fantastic. Of all these varied cases,
| |
| | lady hesitated, but then asked, "Sir, if
|
| however, I cannot recall any which
| |
| | anybody can fathom out the answer to this
|
| presented more singular features than
| |
| | riddle my Aunt believes that you can.
|
| "The Case of the Nun's Disease".It all
| |
| | Please Mr Holmes, she requests your help
|
| began in a year, and even in a decade,
| |
| | in this matter, for the pointers that
|
| that shall be nameless, that upon one
| |
| | your colleague speaks, are clues like any
|
| Tuesday morning in autumn I woke to find
| |
| | that you have used in solving crimes.
|
| Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed,
| |
| | Surely Mr Holmes", says she. "There is no
|
| by the side of my bed. He was a late
| |
| | difference between these and those clues
|
| riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the
| |
| | you have acted upon in the crimes that
|
| mantelpiece showed me that it was only a
| |
| | you have solved".I could see that Holmes
|
| quarter-past seven, I blinked up at him
| |
| | was moved by the manner and speech of
|
| in some surprise, and perhaps just a
| |
| | Miss Miles. For a moment I could see this
|
| little resentment, for I was myself
| |
| | from the expression on his face, one that
|
| regular in my habits."Very sorry to knock
| |
| | I was familiar, when he was in deep
|
| you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the
| |
| | thought. Then his face changed to one of
|
| common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has
| |
| | an expression of gentleness and
|
| been knocked up, she retorted upon me,
| |
| | conviction."Miss Miles" he says. "You are
|
| and I on you.""What is it, then -- a
| |
| | quite right in what you say. Tell your
|
| fire?""No; a client. It seems that a
| |
| | Aunt that I will endeavour to provide an
|
| young lady has arrived in a considerable
| |
| | answer to her enquiry before she takes
|
| state of excitement, who insists upon
| |
| | that journey that we all must take one
|
| seeing me. She is waiting now in the
| |
| | day. She has my deepest sympathy and
|
| sitting room. Now, when young ladies
| |
| | respect".Miss Miles arose, tears in her
|
| wander about the metropolis at this hour
| |
| | eyes and thanked Holmes for his words of
|
| of the morning, and knock sleepy people
| |
| | encouragement. Mrs Hudson escorted her to
|
| up out of their beds, I presume that it
| |
| | the door and hailed a cab for the young
|
| is something very pressing which they
| |
| | lady and she departed.The Game is
|
| have to communicate. Should it prove to
| |
| | AfootWhen our visitor had departed Holmes
|
| be an interesting case, you would, I am
| |
| | stood in silence then sat for some time
|
| sure, wish to follow it from the outset.
| |
| | lost in the deepest thought. Unable to
|
| I thought, at any rate, that I should
| |
| | bear the suspense anymore I caught his
|
| call you and give you the chance.""My
| |
| | attention, which only made him
|
| dear fellow, I would not miss it for
| |
| | frown."Holmes, what are you going to do,
|
| anything."I had no keener pleasure than
| |
| | then?" I asked."To smoke," he answered.
|
| in following Holmes in his professional
| |
| | "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I
|
| investigations, and in admiring the rapid
| |
| | beg that you won't speak to me for fifty
|
| deductions, as swift as intuitions, and
| |
| | minutes."He curled himself up in his
|
| yet always founded on a logical basis
| |
| | chair, with his thin knees drawn up to
|
| with which he unravelled the problems
| |
| | his hawk-like nose, and there he sat with
|
| which were submitted to him. I rapidly
| |
| | his eyes closed and his black clay pipe
|
| threw on my clothes and was ready in a
| |
| | thrusting out like the bill of some
|
| few minutes to accompany my friend down
| |
| | strange bird. I had come to the
|
| to the sitting room. A lady dressed in
| |
| | conclusion that he had dropped asleep,
|
| black and heavily veiled, who had been
| |
| | and indeed was nodding myself, when he
|
| sitting in the window, rose as we
| |
| | suddenly sprang out of his chair with the
|
| entered."Good-morning, madam," said
| |
| | gesture of a man who has made up his mind
|
| Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock
| |
| | and put his pipe down upon the
|
| Holmes. This is my intimate friend and
| |
| | mantelpiece."Watson, my good fellow",
|
| associate, Dr. Watson, before whom you
| |
| | says he to me. "Tell me what you know
|
| can speak as freely as before myself. Ha!
| |
| | about this disease.""Holmes", I replied.
|
| I am glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had
| |
| | "There is really very little to tell.
|
| the good sense to light the fire. Pray
| |
| | Breast cancer as it is now called, first
|
| draw up to it, and I shall order you a
| |
| | made its appearance in the seventeenth
|
| cup of hot coffee, for I observe that you
| |
| | century, although it is suggested that it
|
| are shivering.""lt is not cold which
| |
| | may have occurred before then. At that
|
| makes me shiver," said the woman in a low
| |
| | time it was known as the nun's disease
|
| voice, changing her seat as
| |
| | because for reasons unknown it was
|
| requested."What, then?""It is fear, Mr.
| |
| | particularly prevalent amongst nuns.
|
| Holmes. It is terror." She raised her
| |
| | Bernardino Ramazzini an Italian physician
|
| veil as she spoke, and we could see that
| |
| | was the first to notice this unusual
|
| she was indeed in a pitiable state of
| |
| | trend in the convents, when he was
|
| agitation, her face all drawn and grey,
| |
| | carrying out a survey of convents to look
|
| with restless frightened eyes, like those
| |
| | at the occupation."Holmes thinks about
|
| of some hunted animal. Her features and
| |
| | the case in silence"Ah!" Holmes
|
| figure were those of a woman of thirty,
| |
| | exclaimed. "I have heard of this man. He
|
| but her hair was shot with premature
| |
| | was a man after my own heart and he used
|
| grey, and her expression was weary and
| |
| | similar methods as I, in identifying
|
| haggard.Sherlock Holmes ran her over with
| |
| | causes and effect for various illnesses.
|
| one of his quick, all-comprehensive
| |
| | If I recall his book "Diseases of
|
| glances."You must not fear," said he
| |
| | Workers" outlined the health hazards of
|
| soothingly, bending forward and patting
| |
| | chemicals, dust, metals, and other agents
|
| her forearm. "We shall soon set matters
| |
| | encountered by workers in various
|
| right, I have no doubt. You have come in
| |
| | occupations. He had seen that there was a
|
| by train this morning, I see.""You know
| |
| | relationship between various metals and
|
| me, then?""No, but I observe the second
| |
| | the symptoms of metallic poisoning that
|
| half of a return ticket in the palm of
| |
| | developed in the artisans who worked with
|
| your left glove. You must have started
| |
| | them, and he recognised that paints were
|
| early, and yet you had a good drive in a
| |
| | a factor in the poisoning of painters. He
|
| dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you
| |
| | also made studies of diseases in other
|
| reached the station."The lady gave a
| |
| | occupations including lung diseases of
|
| violent start and stared in bewilderment
| |
| | miners, eye conditions of printers, and
|
| at my companion."There is no mystery, my
| |
| | yes, I remember now, "breast cancer in
|
| dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left
| |
| | nuns." Watson, what conclusions did he
|
| arm of your jacket is spattered with mud
| |
| | reach with respects to our present
|
| in no less than seven places. The marks
| |
| | case?"Well, my friend", says I. "It was a
|
| are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle
| |
| | puzzle to be sure. The only thing he
|
| save a dog-cart which throws up mud in
| |
| | could think of was that perhaps there was
|
| that way, and then only when you sit on
| |
| | some relationship between their celibacy
|
| the left-hand side of the
| |
| | and childlessness. ""No Watson!" says he.
|
| driver.""Whatever your reasons may be,
| |
| | "There must be more that this for even
|
| you are perfectly correct," said she. "My
| |
| | now many women remain childless and do
|
| aunt's faith in your deductive powers is
| |
| | not suffer from the disease. What else do
|
| well founded I can see," says she. "I am
| |
| | you know?"There is strong evidence that
|
| here on a matter of life and death.
| |
| | breast feeding offers some kind of
|
| Alas!" said she, "the very horror of the
| |
| | prevention to women getting the disease."
|
| situation lies in the fact that my fears
| |
| | I said. Medical studies have shown this
|
| are so vague, and my suspicions depend so
| |
| | to be true, and nuns of course did not
|
| entirely upon small points, which might
| |
| | breast feed, so this must be of some
|
| seem trivial to another, that even those
| |
| | relevance."Sherlock Holmes clapped his
|
| to whom of all others I have a right to
| |
| | hands softly together and chuckled. "Pon
|
| look for help and advice looks upon all
| |
| | my word, Watson, you are coming along
|
| that I tell as the fancies of a nervous
| |
| | wonderfully. You have really done very
|
| woman. But I have heard Mr. Holmes that
| |
| | well indeed. It is true that you have
|
| you can see deeply into the manifold
| |
| | missed everything of importance, but you
|
| wickedness of the human heart. You may
| |
| | have hit upon the method" Never trust to
|
| advise me how to walk amid the dangers
| |
| | general impressions, my boy, but
|
| which encompass those who share the
| |
| | concentrate yourself upon details.I could
|
| horrors of which I am about to speak.""I
| |
| | not help but smile at his outburst and as
|
| am all attention, madam." says he."My
| |
| | I did so other "details" entered my head.
|
| name is Sarah Miles, and I am here on
| |
| | "Holmes", I said in excitement. "Women in
|
| behalf of my aunt. She is dying Mr
| |
| | those days wore tight fitting clothing as
|
| Holmes. She is dying of a dreadful
| |
| | they do now, that squeezed their breasts
|
| illness that has plagued those of her
| |
| | to their chest, in order to boost, dare I
|
| vocation. She has sent me to you for even
| |
| | say, cleavage. Further many of the upper
|
| though she lies bedridden in terrible
| |
| | classes applied makeup to their bosom,
|
| pain, knowing that her time is short. But
| |
| | faces and arms, a substance called ceruse
|
| even in this state, her mind is clear and
| |
| | or white Lead and used other preparations
|
| she has heard of you and knows in her
| |
| | to enhance their beauty that was of
|
| heart that if anybody could solve the
| |
| | dubious toxicity. In fact some of these
|
| riddle of her illness, you can. But
| |
| | women also got the nun's disease too
|
| knowing that she has but a few days to
| |
| | while it remained exceeding rare among
|
| live, perhaps a week or two at the most,
| |
| | the lower classes. Holmes, I think we are
|
| it is the reason why I have hastened here
| |
| | onto something", I exclaimed.Holmes
|
| at such an early hour. She wants to know
| |
| | smiled at me as one would of to a child
|
| if you can help before she dies and the
| |
| | who has discovered something new and
|
| reason for my haste""Prey tell me what
| |
| | exciting. "My dear Watson", he said. "Are
|
| vocation is that", said he, his eyes now
| |
| | you not forgetting something? Nuns wore
|
| aflame with interest.I am sure I detected
| |
| | habits, long flowing garments, and did
|
| a tear in the corner of his eye, as I
| |
| | not dub themselves with makeup. I fear
|
| glanced over to him."She is a nun Mr
| |
| | that our line of enquiry is leading along
|
| Holmes", says she. "and has returned home
| |
| | a path that has no significance.Now it
|
| with me to die" But she is not alone in
| |
| | was my turn to smile. "Holmes my dear
|
| her agony for many in her convent had
| |
| | friend". I said. "When it comes to women,
|
| died of the same disease, and others."Ah
| |
| | your knowledge is truly lacking in this
|
| yes, says he. "You mean that she has the
| |
| | area, but as a doctor I am often in
|
| nun's disease, which nowadays is called
| |
| | situations where my services require
|
| breast cancer? I have heard much about
| |
| | treatment of feminine ailments, and nuns
|
| this terrible disease" -Holmes consoles
| |
| | are no exception."Holmes looked at me in
|
| Miss Miles as she relates the condition
| |
| | surprise and motioned me to carry
|
| of her Aunt to him.
| |
| | on."Well", I said. "While it is true that
|
| Holmes glanced in my direction. I had
| |
| | nuns wear long flowing robes as you say,
|
| expected him to be impatient upon this
| |
| | beneath them they wore a stay or similar
|
| narrative because of the untypical nature
| |
| | garment that flattened their breasts
|
| of the case, one that my profession is
| |
| | close to their chests, and they wear it
|
| more likely to be involved in than he,
| |
| | all the time. I can tell you it is quite
|
| but, on the contrary he had listened with
| |
| | a job to remove the garment when one
|
| the greatest concentration of
| |
| | wants to examine the chest area of a nun
|
| attention."Yes Mr Holmes, she has that
| |
| | with a stethoscope." I explained that it
|
| terrible disease, that spreads fear and
| |
| | was something to do with the church's
|
| tribulation among all women, but
| |
| | understanding of chastity, and the need
|
| especially nuns, who for reasons yet
| |
| | not to be a focal point of attention and
|
| unexplained, are susceptible to its
| |
| | a lure to men. However the exact details
|
| horrors. My aunt knows that there is
| |
| | escapes me as it is an internal doctrinal
|
| nothing that anyone can do for her, but
| |
| | matter of the church, and you know me and
|
| she believes that if anyone can find out
| |
| | my thoughts about religion.," says I.The
|
| why those of her calling get the disease,
| |
| | face of Holmes lit up no sooner had my
|
| it would be you sir.She turned in my
| |
| | explanation passed his ears. For a moment
|
| direction and asked, "Dr Watson, are you
| |
| | he was silent, deep in thought then he
|
| a doctor of the medical profession.""Yes,
| |
| | said, "Ah! My dear Watson, there we come
|
| I replied", knowing what she was about to
| |
| | into those realms of conjecture, where
|
| say."Why is it Dr Watson that those who
| |
| | the most logical mind may be at fault.
|
| are supposed to find out cures and
| |
| | Each may form his own hypothesis upon the
|
| remedies for sickness and disease have
| |
| | present evidence, and yours is as likely
|
| failed so badly when it come to this
| |
| | to be correct as mine is. What else have
|
| disease", says she. "Instead all that
| |
| | you to tell me?""Thank you Watson",
|
| seems to be done is to offer treatment
| |
| | Holmes replied, "I was aware of this.
|
| when someone has the disease, which often
| |
| | Prey tell me what has breast feeding and
|
| results in painful mastectomy which
| |
| | a woman having her breasts squeezed to
|
| rarely resolves the problem.""Madam",
| |
| | her chest by tight fitting clothing have
|
| says I. "We of my profession do not know
| |
| | do with this case?"..........So we sat,
|
| why nun's are more prone to get the
| |
| | in silence, lost in our thoughts. Then
|
| disease than other women". All we have
| |
| | all of a sudden he exclaimed, "My dear
|
| are a few pointers, but not enough to
| |
| | fellow." says he, as we sat on either
|
| ascertain the reasons why. So all we can
| |
| | side of the fire in his lodgings at Baker
|
| do is tackle the disease when it arises,
| |
| | Street, "life is infinitely stranger than
|
| hopefully when it is caught in its early
| |
| | anything which the mind of man could
|
| stages, because if we do, we can usually
| |
| | invent. We would not dare to conceive the
|
| provide treatment that will either cure
| |
| | things which are really mere commonplaces
|
| the person or at least extend the life of
| |
| | of existence.
|
