Facial Mutilations

[Wickerman]

Hello (again) Jon. Thanks.

"Difficult to compare different terminology when used by different doctors."

So then Dr. Phillips' terminology is difficult to understand?

Cheers.
LC

Hi Lynn.

On the contrary, Phillips is clear, he said the cut went round (around).
"...carried entirely round and again in front of the neck,". The relative word being "again", indicating a second time across the front of the neck.
In other words, completely around the neck 360 deg, with overlap.

However, Llewellyn is the one who is unclear. First he uses the term "circular" to describe a bruise, which tells us the bruise is round like a coin. Then he uses the same word, "circular" to describe an incision, which clearly cannot be shaped like a coin. He isn't describing a round hole, so we now are left to wonder what he was trying to describe.

[Sam Flynn]

Then [Llewellyn] uses the same word, "circular" to describe an incision...

As does Dr Bond, when referring to Kelly's breasts being removed by "more or less circular incisions". Whether or not this helps illuminate Llewellyn's description I don't know.

[Observer]

As far as facial mutilations go, only the killer can reveal to us the reason he nicked Kate Eddowes eyelids, destroyed Mary Kelly's face. Is that a cop out? Of course it is, but it's the only real answer as to why he mutilated the victims faces.

It's ok to speculate, within reason I'd say. However, it's been suggested by one of our more fanciful posters that poor Kelly's face was destroyed by someone who knew her. It's personal you see! Pure wickedness takes a back seat when the complete destruction of the face occurs it seems.

Eddowes nose, missing, ah, she's a grass, snitch for our American friends. I am intrigued by the nicking of the eyelids, and the blanching of the lips. Delicate mutilations. Those injuries would suggest an ulterior motive other than sheer wickedness, spitefulness. I'm at a loss to explain those injuries.

[Sam Flynn]

I am intrigued by the nicking of the eyelids, and the blanching of the lips. Delicate mutilations. Those injuries would suggest an ulterior motive other than sheer wickedness, spitefulness.

It could be partly about control/empowerment, in which case wounds like those might simply have been a case of "I did it because I could".

[Fisherman]

"Blanching", what exactly is it in this context? Is there a synonym? Can anybody help a Swede out here?

[Observer]

Quite possible. It amazes me how the killer performed such delicate cuts to the eyelids considering his knife was at least six inches long.

[Observer]

"Blanching", what exactly is it in this context? Is there a synonym? Can anybody help a Swede out here?

Haha, it's a term one of the doctors used Fisherman. Of course, blanching also means, part boiling food, usually vegetables. In the case of Eddowes I took it to mean the faint slicing of Eddowes lips.

[c.d.]

Why does there have to be any significance at all attached to the facial mutilations? If we assume that the killer simply liked cutting women, the face is right there in front of him and readily accessible. It could be as simple as that.

c.d.

[Observer]

I believe someone suggested that the cutting of the lips was to demonstrate that Kate Eddowes talked too much. I'd have said that if one wanted to signify this they would have cut her tongue out.

[Observer]

Why does there have to be any significance at all attached to the facial mutilations? If we assume that the killer simply liked cutting women, the face is right there in front of him and readily accessible. It could be as simple as that.

c.d.

Yes it could. Consider the eyelids though. Do you not think it was a rather strange thing to do?

[c.d.]

Yes it could. Consider the eyelids though. Do you not think it was a rather strange thing to do?

Yes, I do but so was taking out her kidney. I think the eyelid thing was sort of like a cat playing with a mouse. A complete power trip. And if the motivation was a little pay back for his getting syphilis from a prostitute, then the face makes sense as their face was their way of attracting men.

c.d.

[Sam Flynn]

Of course, blanching also means, part boiling food, usually vegetables. In the case of Eddowes I took it to mean the faint slicing of Eddowes lips.

Blanching doesn't refer directly to the cuts themselves, Obs - in this context, it almost certainly refers to the pallor of the skin caused by loss of blood. From the French blanc/blanche, blanching means "the action of making white" (OED definition).

[Fisherman]

Haha, it's a term one of the doctors used Fisherman. Of course, blanching also means, part boiling food, usually vegetables. In the case of Eddowes I took it to mean the faint slicing of Eddowes lips.

Aha! Thanks a lot, Observer - I found it quite confusing!

[Fisherman]

Blanching doesn't refer directly to the cuts themselves, Obs - in this context, it almost certainly refers to the pallor of the skin caused by loss of blood. From the French blanc/blanche, blanching means "the action of making white" (OED definition).

Ah - well, the one thing I make of blanching is to whiten things, and it seems you may be right, Gareth. Thanks to you too!

What I think myself when faced with the matter of the eyelid nicks - as well as with the fact that the killer cut away part of Eddowes´ apron - is that this man was in no rush at all, seemingly. Nor does he seem to have been disturbed or scared off.

[Harry D]

Yes, I do but so was taking out her kidney. I think the eyelid thing was sort of like a cat playing with a mouse. A complete power trip. And if the motivation was a little pay back for his getting syphilis from a prostitute, then the face makes sense as their face was their way of attracting men.

c.d.

If vengeance was his motivation, why didn't he target the face before Eddowes?