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

[Ms Diddles]

I'm torn between 2, 4 & 5.

I went for 2 in the end, but I see 4 & 5 as distinct possibilities.

[Abby Normal]

at a minimum somewhere around 4,5,6 so i voted number five.

[Lewis C]

I voted #5, interpreting the question to mean not necessarily what knowledge did the killer have, but what's the minimum he needed to have, he could have had more.

The choices seem to be almost in order, but not quite. I think that #4 indicates a higher level of knowledge than #5. I don't know what #3 means.

[Marcel Prost]

I voted #5, interpreting the question to mean not necessarily what knowledge did the killer have, but what's the minimum he needed to have, he could have had more.

The choices seem to be almost in order, but not quite. I think that #4 indicates a higher level of knowledge than #5. I don't know what #3 means.

Hi Lewis C,

Sorry, I should have explained that better.

By “Street Butcher Familiarity” I meant someone who had a working knowledge of cutting meat from bone, like a street butcher might, but without the more specialized skill and training you’d expect from a slaughterhouse worker.

Basically rough, functional cutting rather than anything refined or professional.

[Marcel Prost]

The choices seem to be almost in order, but not quite. I think that #4 indicates a higher level of knowledge than #5.

Good catch, Lewis C, that’s a fair question.

The way I ordered them is because a slaughterhouse worker would be skilled in quick, rough cutting for practical purposes, while an “amateur dissector” might not be as fast or efficient, but would have a more targeted curiosity about locating and removing specific organs.

So in my mind, the butcher/slaughterhouse type represents hands-on but rough experience, while the amateur dissector suggests someone who’s deliberately experimenting with anatomy, even if clumsily.

I put the dissector above because it implies a step closer to actual medical-style anatomical awareness, rather than just meat-cutting.

That was my reasoning, but I understand your point. They are very close on a knowledge scale and, in fact, could be reversed.

[Georgeb]

Hi. Went for slaughter man. Must have had some knowledge to undertake the removal of organs. I personally don't believe it was a doctor due to the area and the time of night.