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