Zero Knowledge to Skilled Surgeon – What’s Your Take?

[Marcel Prost]

Hi all,

I don’t want to become “the poll guy,” but I’ve found that putting questions into a poll format can be a very efficient way to get a sense of where everyone stands on a topic.

To capture the full spectrum of views, I’ve set up 10 possible options, ranging from “zero anatomical knowledge” all the way up to “highly skilled surgeon.”

Hopefully this will help clarify the diversity of opinion here and maybe even highlight areas of agreement or division.

Please cast your vote, and of course, feel free to expand in the comments if you want to explain your reasoning or challenge the categories themselves.

Looking forward to seeing where the community lands on this one

[Marcel Prost]

I know this question has been debated countless times here (and everywhere else), but I thought a poll might be a useful way to get a clear, immediate snapshot of where people currently stand on the issue of the Ripper’s anatomical knowledge.

I’m not expecting to “settle” the matter once and for all with one more post on Casebook—if even the coroners in 1888 couldn’t agree, I doubt we’ll crack it here.

But what we can do is map out the range of opinions in a way that’s easy to see at a glance.

[Tom_Wescott]

Good idea for a poll.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Duran duren]

Agreed Tom, excellent poll Marcel!

[Tel]

Torn between #1 & #5, but I think #5 has the edge.

[Kunochan]

I always thought slaughterman was more likely than trained surgeon, simply because of the speed with which the killer must have worked (except with "Kelly," obviously). A surgeon may act quickly, but they are used to working with great care. A slaughterhouse worker is expected to act as quickly and efficiently as possible. They disassemble an animal, rather than performing surgery on it. And the Ripper was a disassembler, especially in the "Kelly" case.

[Doctored Whatsit]

I always thought slaughterman was more likely than trained surgeon, simply because of the speed with which the killer must have worked (except with "Kelly," obviously). A surgeon may act quickly, but they are used to working with great care. A slaughterhouse worker is expected to act as quickly and efficiently as possible. They disassemble an animal, rather than performing surgery on it. And the Ripper was a disassembler, especially in the "Kelly" case.

Agreed, and the slaughterman is also a trained, experienced killer, and throat slitter who knows how to avoid getting blood on his person. Surely the Ripper didn't accidentally use a slaughterman's modus opperandi perfectly without previous practice.

[Tel]

That was #2 & #5 btw