The real-life surgeon who inspired Sherlock Holmes

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorA Scottish surgeon named Joseph Bell could look at a patient once and name his job, his habits and what was wrong with him, and he's the real man behind Sherlock Holmes, Ars Technica reports.

2. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHistorian Lindsey Fitzharris wrote a new book on him called Sleuth-Hound, and she argues Bell did in real life what Holmes only did on the page.

3. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorHe did it at the Royal Infirmary, in one glance. One worn patch on a man's trouser knee, and Bell decided he was a cobbler.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentOne trouser knee. My recommended page has two years of my data and still thinks I want a kayak.

5. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorBell called his powers elementary, while observers found them almost supernatural. I'd call that a very humble press strategy.

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   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHumble branding is rare. Usually it's a guy announcing his method.

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   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe catch is the guesswork. Fitzharris argues doctors leaned on it partly because patients distrusted medicine back then, according to BookPage.

8. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the glance was a trust problem.

9. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe book is twenty-seven ninety-six in hardcover. Five stars for Bell, one star for his appointment system.

10. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBell needed one trouser knee to know the man was a cobbler.

11. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAn app needs your location, your contacts and a cookie banner to guess you like shoes.