A review of Holmes' areas of expertise
This post is largely for the purposes of Holmes' mun, though may also help inform others who are looking to plot with Sherlock. It contains a list of Holmes' documented skills and areas of knowledge. This remains a work in progress as I am sloughing through the short stories page by page in order to compile a list of anything that would be useful to me as his player.
'Well up in anatomy" and "a first class chemist".
Personally discovered a re-agent precipitated by haemoglobin, and nothing else, as an infallible test for blood stains, whether old or new.
Wide knowledge of poisons
The list compiled by Watson during his early days of getting to know Holmes:
Sherlock Holmes - his limits
1. Knowledge of Literature - Nil.
2. "" " Philosophy - Nil.
3. "" "" Astronomy - Nil.
(Utterly ignorant of the Copernican Theory and of the composition of the Solar System; and that the earth travels round the sun)
4. " " Politics - Feeble.
5. " " Botany - Variable.
Well up in belladonna, opium, and poisons generally.
Knows nothing of practical gardening.
6. Knowledge of Geology - Practical, but limited.
Tells at a glance different soils from each other. After walks has shown me splashes upon his trousers, and told
me by their colour and consistence in what part of London he had received them.
7. Knowledge of Chemistry - Profound.
8. " " Anatomy - Accurate, but unsystematic.
9. " " Sensational Literature - Immense.
He appears to know every detail of every horror perpetrated in the century.
10. Plays the violin well.
11. Is an expert singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman [Mun note: Singlestick is a one handed fencing stick fitted with a hand guard]
12. Has a good practical knowledge of British law.
Published an article called "The Book of Life", showing how much an observant man could learn by an accurate and systematic examination of all that comes his way. Includes his theory that 'by a man's finger-nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boots, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt-cuffs - by each of these things a man's calling is plainly revealed.
Can deduce a man's height from the length of his stride correctly 9 times out of 10.
Had made a special study of cigar ashes, and written a monograph on the subject; can distinguish at a glance the ash of any known brand of cigar or tobacco.
'Well up in anatomy" and "a first class chemist".
Personally discovered a re-agent precipitated by haemoglobin, and nothing else, as an infallible test for blood stains, whether old or new.
Wide knowledge of poisons
The list compiled by Watson during his early days of getting to know Holmes:
Sherlock Holmes - his limits
1. Knowledge of Literature - Nil.
2. "" " Philosophy - Nil.
3. "" "" Astronomy - Nil.
(Utterly ignorant of the Copernican Theory and of the composition of the Solar System; and that the earth travels round the sun)
4. " " Politics - Feeble.
5. " " Botany - Variable.
Well up in belladonna, opium, and poisons generally.
Knows nothing of practical gardening.
6. Knowledge of Geology - Practical, but limited.
Tells at a glance different soils from each other. After walks has shown me splashes upon his trousers, and told
me by their colour and consistence in what part of London he had received them.
7. Knowledge of Chemistry - Profound.
8. " " Anatomy - Accurate, but unsystematic.
9. " " Sensational Literature - Immense.
He appears to know every detail of every horror perpetrated in the century.
10. Plays the violin well.
11. Is an expert singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman [Mun note: Singlestick is a one handed fencing stick fitted with a hand guard]
12. Has a good practical knowledge of British law.
Published an article called "The Book of Life", showing how much an observant man could learn by an accurate and systematic examination of all that comes his way. Includes his theory that 'by a man's finger-nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boots, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt-cuffs - by each of these things a man's calling is plainly revealed.
Can deduce a man's height from the length of his stride correctly 9 times out of 10.
Had made a special study of cigar ashes, and written a monograph on the subject; can distinguish at a glance the ash of any known brand of cigar or tobacco.