Лучшие расследования Шерлока Холмса / The Best of Sherlock Holmes

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baboons – actually baboons aren’t Indian animals, they are found only in Africa

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“Jack-in-office” – an annoying self-important minor official

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Doctors’ Commons – initially it was an association of lawyers who specialized in civil law, similar to the Inns of Court (though the Inn’s members specialized in common law). From 1565 to 1858 Doctors’ Commons resided in Paternoster Row, near St. Paul’s where civil records were stored. In 1858 the society was dissolved.

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Eley is a British firm still manufacturing rimfire ammunition. It was started in 1820s by brothers William and Charles Eley. They specialized in patent cartridges, so Eley’s № 2 must refer to a cartridge, probably for Webley revolver.

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Wilton carpet is aВ woven wool carpet noted for its original looped or cut-velvet texture and for having up to five colours in aВ pattern. Wilton carpets were first manufactured in Wilton, Wiltshire, England in 1740s.

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William Palmer (1824–1856) aka Rugeley Poisoner was an English doctor convicted of poisoning his friend John Cook and suspected of poisoning his wife, mother-in-law and four infants.

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Edward William Pritchard (1825–1865) was an English doctor convicted of poisoning his wife and mother-in-law.

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AВ swamp adder (Proatheris superciliaris) is really aВ venomous snake, though it resides in East Africa, not India.

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Carbolised bandages – that is, bandages with carbolic acid (phenol); in the 19

century it was used as antiseptic.

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agony column is a newspaper’s column containing advertisements of missing people. The term can be also used for advice column.

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The Times is the most famous British daily newspaper, founded in 1785. By the middle of the 19

century The Times gained reputation of the most influential British newspaper and was extremely popular.

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Fuller’s earth is a fine-grained substance that consists mainly of hydrated aluminum silicates and absorbs fat, grease and oils. Initially Fuller’s earth was used in textile industry to clean raw wool.

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Harmonium (akaВ Reed Organ akaВ Pipe Organ) is aВ small organ popular in Britain in the 19

century.

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monomaniac – a person suffering from monomania.