# Sherlock Holmes and the Seven Percent Solution - Straight Dope Style

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-holmes-and-the-seven-percent-solution-straight-dope-style/166672>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [April 5, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-holmes-and-the-seven-percent-solution-straight-dope-style/166672 "2003-04-05T11:55:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lupanox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@Lupanox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lupanox)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-holmes-and-the-seven-percent-solution-straight-dope-style/166672/1 "2003-04-05T11:55:20Z")

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While I simply loved the recent staff article on Sherlock Holmes (found [here](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msherlock.html) )  
I did notice that Dex left out one glaring argument for why _The Seven Percent Solution_ should be completely disregarded.

As anyone who has read the book or Dex’s column knows, the book takes place in 1891 and explains the mysterious disappearance of Holmes claiming he was recovering from his cocaine addiction with the aid of the esteemed Sigmund Freud. What they may have missed, however, is that one of the characters instrumental in Holmes’ recovery is Freud’s dear daughter Anna, a girl of seven or eight. Unfortunately our dear Anna was born in 1895, which would make it a little difficult to listen to Holmes play the violin in 1891, as she was wont to do in the book. According to the timeline given us, Holmes was off solving more mysteries before Anna was even a glimmer in Sigmund’s eye. While some time discrepancies can be attributed to Watson’s notoriously bad memory (if you pay attention, he often forget’s which body part he injured in the war), a four year difference is a little difficult to swallow. Therefore, _The Seven Percent Solution_ must be purely fictitious, and moreover, complete hogwash. 😃

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-holmes-and-the-seven-percent-solution-straight-dope-style/166672/2 "2003-04-05T21:10:55Z")

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Can I say it? Can I, can I, huh? Oh please please please, let me say it?  
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I can?! Oh boy!!  
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_“No shit, Sherlock…”_

😃

thank you  
im very happy now

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-holmes-and-the-seven-percent-solution-straight-dope-style/166672/3 "2003-04-05T21:41:08Z")

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Since this is a comment on a Staff Report and not one of Cecil’s columns, I’ll move this thread to the Comments on Staff Reports forum.

bibliophage  
moderator GQ

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-holmes-and-the-seven-percent-solution-straight-dope-style/166672/4 "2003-04-06T04:50:20Z")

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Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Board, **Lupanox** , glad to have you with us. And a nice comment indeed, I confess that I didn’t delve that deeply into THE SEVEN PERCENT SOLUTION.

There is another thread on this topic, called["Holmes and Friends"](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&postid=3243182). I see that you’ve already posted there, as well, so I’m going to close this one.