Very good...but obviously as a military man and medic I've heard all these jokes before!

Yes, I have the full code now. It took me a while to twig (but then, I'm Watson, not Holmes!).

Not easy to explain, but I'll have a go.

1. Write out the alphabet (A-Z) five times in a single column.
2. Number each letter (1-26 first, then 27-130).
3. At the side of each number, write the element that corresponds to that atomic weight. For instance, 1 = H (Hydrogen), 2 = He (Helium) etc.
4. There are only 118 elements. When you get to 119, renumber the following section of the sequence so that 119-130 become 1-12. Associate these numbers with the elements corresponding to the renumbered sequence (i.e. 1 = H, 2 = He ...) until you reach the end of the alphabets at the 130th character.
5. Decipher the message by matching the atomic numbers to the alphabets.
6. When deciphering the message, every time a number is out of order in the sequence, restart. So 13, 44, 71, 86 and 7 are in the sequence order. Therefore, although 86 is the 86th in the sequence, "7" is not the 7th but the 125th (corresponding to "U"). The next number (4) isn't in sequence, so we restart which makes it the 4th in sequence (D). Continue.

Final message; MRS HUDSON TOOK MY SKULL

JHW.

Last edited by John H. Watson, M.D (June 1, 2012 3:41 pm)

Nice to know that I seem to have more brains than your infernal skull, Holmes!

John H. Watson, M.D wrote:

Nice to know that I seem to have more brains than your infernal skull, Holmes!

The skull is a good listener.

Awww, no you did well!

Good one Molly