2nd October 1881 - Morning

We now have a name for my unknown patient - Miss Victoria Smith*.

According to Holmes, Miss Smith settled into an even pace of breathing, heart rate and temperature during the night (about 4am) after periods of agitation. Miss Smith was in a similar condition when I woke though soon showed some signs of waking. As such, I arranged some beef tea and warm water for her to sip at being reluctant to over encumber her system. She woke at half nine and although extremely weak she was able to tell me her name. I also asked if she had anyone we could contact for her, someone who would be eager to hear that she was well. It was at this point her health started to deteriorate again, pulse rising, shortness of breath and increase of temperature. She answered that she is 'totally alone in this world' that there was no-one. During the night she had mentioned someone called Jamie, I asked her who he was and she went white as she had the previous night. Luckily, she was still laid up on the sofa, wrapped in blankets and shawls otherwise I fear she would have fell again. She said 'Jamie....is lost to me.' It is my belief that she has lost someone close recently. I tried to calm her and managed to get her to drink some water and some of the beef tea to which I added a sedative. She needs total rest.

Holmes had removed himself before she woke, keeping the door to his room open, having asked me to only enquire as to her name and if there was anyone to contact. I think he expected her to react to the enquiry, as once she was asleep again he came breezing back into the sitting room and offered to watch over her while she slept saying he had some analysis to do.

I have two of Dr Roberts patients to visit today, along with the good Doctor himself so will update my diary again later.



*Biographers note - The surname of the woman has been changed to maintain her anonymity I have chosen a surname which was popular in both Victorian and modern Britain - Hence Miss SMITH. The woman's first name and other details have not been changed.

1st October 1881.

Today started promising but has turned disturbing. I spent the majority of the day looking in on Dr Robert's patients for him as he is still unable to return to his practise. I'll admit to enjoying having a chance to practise medicine and it beats being stuck at home while Holmes is having one of his quiet patches. Though he did pick up a little at breakfast when he received a note from Lestrade about the Murder of Mrs Charlotte Simpson. He left the house before me and returned at some point during the day. I've not found out what Lestrade wanted yet as I had only just removed my coat which is sodden from the rain we've had all day when Mrs Hudson called for me to 'come quick'. Having spoken with her since it seems my new patient looked 'Wet through and odd' and was 'not hysterical' when Mrs Hudson first opened the door. It seems that the woman asked if she was Mrs Hudson, and on hearing the response 'went white as a sheet'. The woman also asked if this was the residence of Myself and Holmes. Mrs Hudson said she noticed the woman had no colour and looked like she would collapse at any moment. She confirmed that it was our home and called up to me. She said the woman 'stumbled as she turned to look at the street' and 'went down quite suddenly'. At this point I must have been almost at the top of the stairs to find out what Mrs Watson wanted and heard her shriek and dashed down. The woman had collapsed cutting her head quite severely on the right side and was disorientated. I called for Holmes and she turned towards the stairs, the light coming from inside probably. I don't think she heard me talking to her, nor even realised she was being held. She lost consciousness moments afterwards. That would have been at about seven thirty. She has yet to regain consciousness, Holmes has insisted I treat her rather than send her to a hospital as he feels she is in the greatest mortal danger. She certainly was earlier. Her temperature rose severely after the blow to her head, leading me to arranging a cold water bath. She is now resting on the sofa having been changed by Mrs Hudson, who is acting as a nurse, into a spare gown the woman's own clothes covered in blood and wet from the rain and immersion in the cool water. She had a seizure while in the bath, probably due to the temperature, though at the time I was worried that it was due to disease or brain damage. I seriously expected us to have to call for Lestrade to inform him of a unknown death. Her temperature has lowered and if anything is slightly too low now, but she is wrapped up well and a fire has been lit to ensure she does not deteriorate. It is this quick drop in temperature which makes me think her fever was something to do with the head injury and not some infection. The cut has been stitched and dressed and will hopefully heal without too much scarring though I feel she will have a substantial black eye. Holmes has agreed to watch over during the night as I am exhausted after the initial treatment. He is under strict instructions to wake me if she comes round, and if there is any sign of her deterioration. I prey that she pulls through. She is such an enigma, and we don't even know her name.