The Dying Detective

The story has been ascribed to November 1888 or 1889. It was published in The Strand Magazine in December 1913 and is one of the eight stories contained in the compilation ‘His Last Bow’. Watson is summoned by Holmes’ landlady Mrs Hudson as she believes he is dying from a disease he contracted while working on a case in Rotherhithe. Watson attends Holmes who refuses to allow Watson to examine him or bring in professional medical help. Instead, he requests Watson to ask a Mr Culverton Smith, a planter from Sumatra to visit him. All is not as it seems and involves an ivory box, the death of Culverton Smith’s nephew and Watson hiding behind the head of Holmes’ bed before an arrest is made.