Sherlock Holmes: Analytical Chemist R. P . GRAHAM McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario was Louis Untermeyer who described ( 1 ) Sherlock ITHolmes as "a legend that has come to life." Many
istry was "profound" [although Watson, whose memory was very far from infallible, thought some years scores of papers have been written* about this most later (13) that he had described it as "eccentric"]. renowned of all detectives, and there remain hut few Because Dr. Watson's knowledge of chemistry was aspects of his private life not yet subjected to an analy- little short of pathetic, he cannot be regarded as qualisis almost as penetrating as that applied by Sherlock fied to assess Holmes's proficiency in the subject. PerHolmes himself in the more than 50 case histories haps the best indication of Watson's understanding of chronicled by Dr. John H. Watson. But-and it is a chemistry, or rather, lack of it, was his conclusion from singular oversight considering how important an avoca- the facts of their lightness and transparency that certion of his i t w a s n o one appears to have devoted much tain pills-those used by Jefferson Hope in the venattention to his chemical work. It is the purpose of this geance murder of Enoch Drebber (12)-were soluble in essay to furnish some account of Sherlock Holmes the water. The agreement Holmes expressed was, of course, with Watson's conclusions, and not with his chemist. manifestly absurd reasoning. Again, when the detective's Boswell refers to certain chemical experiments as being "weird" ( l a ) , he is obviously indicating merely his'own inability to understand them. If Watson had possessed even a modest appreciation of chemistry there would be available a wealth of information regarding the chemical Holmes; as i t is, one must be content with rather scanty data. When, in 1881 ( 6 ) , Holmes was giving consideration (12) to moving from Montague Street (15) [where he had been staying, apparently (3), since 18761, Watson was asked if he would object to the presenceof chemicals and the carrying out of experiments in the Baker Street rooms they were talking of sharing. The doctor raised no objections then, nor a t any later date in so far as is known. This is in spite of the fact that oft-prepared (14, 16) malodorous products sometimes (17) almost drove him out of the apartment. The living -Rcpmduccd from "ZZIB: Sludirr i n Shnlork Holmcs" through the kindncsr of Virrcnr SlarrclL room was "always full of chemicals" (15), although ~ h c~ n c m i l l o n Company, New York. their proper place was apparently on an "acid-charred bench" ( I S ) . This bench was in the corner that conThe evidence relating to the university career of tained the "acid-stained, deal-topped table" (19) at Sherlock Holmes has been examined in detail by which Holmes sat on a laboratory stool (16) to carry Dorothy L. Sayers ( 3 ) . She has concluded that he was out his experiments. On the wall there were scientific admitted to an Honours Degree a t Cambridge after charts (18). siFting, late in 1874, for his Tripos in Natural Sciences; Dr. Watson, who never was very observant, has h ~ fields s of specialization were chemistry and compara- given a very incomplete account of the chemical aptive anatomy and physiology. That he engaged in paratus Holmes used a t 221B Baker Street. It is repostgraduate study of chemistry is highly probable, corded, however, that he had a low-power microscope hut it is not clear whether he thus honored the Univer- (20),test tubes (16,17,21,22,23),a test tube rack (16), sity of London (4), the Johns Hopkins University ( 5 ) . a glass pipet (23), a Bunsen burner (23), and retorts or a university in Germany ( 3 ) . Young Stamford, (17, 22) which were probably curved ones of glass (23). who introduced Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes, con- One of the retorts very likely had a capacity above sidered the latter a "first-class chemist" (12),and Dr. 2000 ml., since the condensate from a distillation was Watson, in the early days (1881) of the partnership, collected in a "two-litre measure" (23). His litmus recorded 112), that his new friend's knowledge - of chem- paper (23) doubtless was kept in a small phial. There 'For an exhaustive bibliography, see the compilation by must have been containers for hydrochloric acid (ZI), Edgar W. Smith (2). Some of the more important volumes of nitric acid [which would account for some of the stains collected essays are "Baker Street Studies," "221B: Studies in (12) on Holmes's fingers], and sulfuric acid [certainly Sherlock Holmes." and "Profile by Gaslight." 508
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some of the stains on the table (19) and part of the charring of the bench (18) must,be attributed to this common reagent]. One is tempted to speculate regarding the contents of other reagent bottles (23) [a "formidable array" (21)], b n t a n d it is Holmes's own dictum (24)-"it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." In 1881 (6), a t the time Dr. Watson made the acqnaintance of Sherlock Holmes in the chemical laboratory of St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London, Holmes was studying blood chemistry (12). Earlier, in fact during one of his long vacations as an undergraduate [probably (3) in the July of 1872or of 18731, he hadspent seven weeks working out some experiments in organic chemistry in his London rooms (25). Thus his early interest was in the organic field. But what of his later chemical studies? The Watsouian text furnishes definite, albeit meager, information relative to some five chemical projects, not considering, for the moment, two or three experiments undertaken as part of the investigation of certain criminal activities. Of these five studies, three are without question organic chemistry, and only one suggests an inorganic problem. Holmes's chemical interests, accordingly, were largely centered in the organic branch of chemistry. His forte was analytical organic chemistry. For example, he devised a specific test for the characterization of hemoglobint (12), and during the investigation of the strange death of Mr. Bartholomew Sholto (17) (himself an amateur chemist) Holmes rested his mind by busying himself with an "abstruse chemical analysis." The crisis occurring in the relations of Miss Violet Hunter with the Rucastles (22) caused delay of an analysis of ketones (Watson mistakenly reported this as "acetones"), and again, "a chemical analysis of some interest" was interrupted by the peculiar activities of Abe Slauey (16). An identification of a barium salt was made while Holmes had on his mind the case of the missing Mr. Hosmer Angel (21). But even without these clearly defined examples we might have known that analysis would be the branch of chemistry to claim his interest. It was analytical reasoning, following upon the observation of minutiae, that frequently led Holmes to the startlingly successful results he obtained in his practice as a consulting detective. He himself claimed (17) that he was in his own proper atmosphere when he was involved with "the most intricale analysis." There is clear evidence that Sherlock Holmes poss w e d excellent chemical techniaue. Watson has recorded (12) that Holmes manipulated apparatus ("philosophical instruments") with an "extraordinary delicacy of touch"; and the doctor, whatever his chemical limitations, would, by virtue of his surgical training (12), have been able to recognize good technique. The presence of laboratory furniture damaged by chemicals
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t In present-day practice, the qualitative test recommendel (8) for the detection of blood utilims the reaction of hen?og.lohin wlth benzidine (4.4'-diaminodiphenyl) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide to produce a blue color.
(18,19) over a 10-year periodt does not invalidate this thesis because Holmes was frequently engaged in research involving the study of unknown, and thus possibly violent and explosive, reactions that would lead to unavoidable accidents. A Holmesian scholar of note, S. C. Roberts, has coutended (7) that the interest of Sherlock Holmes in chemistry was purely a practical one, and that he was not devoted to scientific investigation for its own sake. This must not pass unchallenged. It is, of course, perfectly true that Holmes applied his knowledge of science to various problems arising from his professional work: witness the use of microscopy for the identification of zinc and copper filings (20) (which resulted in the capture of a "coiner"), and of glue (20) (which identi6ed a murderer), and his intensely practical burning of powdered devil's foot root (Radix peas diaboli) in his reconstruction of the tragedy of the Tregennis family (27). And again, i t is admitted that his determination (23) of the pH of a particular reaction (to decide a man's fate), and his development (12) of a test for blood stains are illustrations of applied chemistry. But these examples are from the work of Holmes the detective, a practitioner in forensic chemistry. Holmes, the student of pure chemistry, is in evidence when he is identifying barium bisdfates (21), investigating the dissolution of a hydrocarbon (17), analyzing ketones (22), and spending some months "in a research into the coaltar derivatives" [conducted, in late 1893 and early 1894 (19), in a laboratory a t Montpellier in the south of France]. There is not a tittle of evidence to suggest that, in these studies, Holmes was interested in anything but the pursuit of pure knowledge. No, Mr. Roberts, Sherlock Holmes was a happy blend of the practical and the theoretical chemist. The development pf a test capable of detecting blood a t a dilution of one part per million was an oittstanding piece of work. /I The research involving coal-tar derivatives was concluded to Holmes's satisfactionand we know that his standards for his own work were of the highest order. These accomplishments, even if onedoes not consider the diversity and complexity of the other chemical studies he successfully pursued, would stamp Holmes as a chemist of high rank. There is no doubt that "science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in crime" (24). From his biographer it is known (28) that the master detective was an "uncomfortable man" without his chemicals. There is no question but that "the chemical work which was so dear to him" (21) . . was continued on
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% Holmes and Watson moved into 221B Baker Street in 1881 (6). Observation of stains on the chemical table seems to have
heen Grst made in April. 18111 (19). but the rooms Itad been. at this date. unoccupied since April. 1891 (19. M ? h r i u m hii~~lfnte may be vrevared bv rrvstallization from a solution of barium sulfate in concentrated sthfuric acid (9). II Holnes considered (22) that the "old guaiacum test was very clumsy an3 uncertain." The guaiacum reaction was first des:ribeI hy Schanbein (Christian Friedrich Schanbein, 17991868, the discoverer of ozone) in 1858, and is sensitive to ~ e r h a n s 0 i t IIIIUI 1 It ii not known whcthcr the leit dc&d I& Iiolrcs some ti5 wars ago has bcen cumparer! with later proccdurrs reparrcd ( I 0 , 1 1 ) to bv nmrr smdiive ttril~rw c . i u I.OW.000.
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the Sussex Downs in the days of his retirement; the latter would allow him, as he himself put it (26), "to concentrate my attention upon my chemical researches." I t is indeed a pity that there is available no specific information about these later chemical studies of Sherlock Holmes. But it is certain that the theory and practice of analytical chemistry have claimed, and perhaps even now are claiming, many of his leisured hours. LITERATURE CITED (1) UNTERMEYER, L., in "Profile by Gaslight" (edited by E. 'w. SMITH),Simon and Schuster, New York, 1944. (2) Sum, E. W., "Baker Street Inventory," The Pamphlet House, Summit. New Jersey, 1945. (3) SAYERS,D. L., in "Baker Street Studies" (edited by H. W. BELL),Constable and Co., London. 1934. (4) MACGOWAN, K., in "The Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes" (edited by E. QUEEN),Little, Brown and Company, Boston. 1944. (5) MORLEY, C., in "221B: Studies in Sherlock Holmes" . Macmillan Company. New (edited bv V. S ~ h n n s r.r.)The Pork, 1@0. (6) SMITH,E. W., in "Profile by Gaslight" (loc. cit.) (7) ROBERTS, S. C., in "Baker Street Studies" (106. cit.)
Luc~s,A,, "Forensic Chemistry and Scientific Criminal
Investigation," 3rd Ed., Longmans. Green and Company, New York, 1935, rpp. 29-32. THORNE.P. C. L., AND E. R. ROBERTS,"Ephraim's Inorganic Chemistry," 4th Ed., revised, Nordeman Publishing Company, Inc., New York, 1943, ~ ~ 5 8 0 . "Allen's Commercial Organic Analysis, 5th Ed., BlakisInc.. Philadelphia, 1933. Vol. 10. tan's Son & Comoany. . .~ pp. 31-5. (11) KERR, D., The British Medical Journal, 1, 721 (1926). R. O., op. cit., p. GIRDWOOD. N.B. THE POLLOWIND ARE. O F COURSE. REFERENCES TO PROBLEMS AND CASES INVESTIGATED BY MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES "A Study in Scarlet." "The Five Orange Pips." "The Adventure of the Dvina . - Detective." "The Musgrave Ritual." "The Adventure of the Dancing Men." "The Sign of Four." "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone." "The Adventure of the Empty House." "The Adventure of Shoscamhe Old Place." ,21 "A Case of ldeuriry." (22 "Thc .\dventurc of rhe Copper Iieerhes." ,231 "The S a w l Trratv." i24j "A Scandal in ~06ernia." (25j "The 'Gloria Scott'." (26) "The Final Problem." (27) "The Adventure of the Devil's Foot." i28j " ~ h cAdventure of the Three Students."
