Book review of "The Science of Sherlock Holmes and the Beginnings of Forensic Medicine"
Sir Joseph Bell was a universal doctor who could diagnose illnesses even from inconspicuous symptoms with criminalistic finesse. He became the founder of forensic medicine and proved himself in headline-grabbing criminal cases of the fin de siècle. Strongly impressed Sir Joseph was a student, Dr. Arthur ConanDoyle, who always wanted to help him, but had to open a practice for obvious practical reasons. However, this did not flourish, so that the gifted writer invented adventure stories in which Sir Joseph as master detective Sherlock Holmes and himself as the self-ironic caricatured Dr. Watson appearance.
It is the ingenious criminalistic evidence to solve the case that brought the amateur author a smaller circle of fin-de-siècle eccentrics. But their number (power) could Dr. not covering Doyle's deficits. Therefore he preferred military medical glory in the Civil War.
He returned home as Sir Arthur and was so welcomed by the triumphant press as well as the waiting fans that he resurrected detective and assistant to now write many successful volumes of Sherlock Holmes novels and become a myth beyond death.
In this interesting book, the story of the beginnings of forensic medicine is described in a well-founded and fascinating way. The factual, factual and analytical scientific environment is listed in an extremely helpful overview right at the beginning. Some realistic abominations illustrate the methodology and fears of the time in tabula with contemporary flair. The factual statement is followed in each chapter by a thought-provoking "What remains to be said". A brilliant book – brava! Bravissima!
