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