Something in the sub-text of the tea scene that’s worth pointing out to get us thinking.. That of Snow White - the apple, supported by the Grimm fairytale book and the red seals, a blow-up of one was shown with a chip missing from the side, as if an apple bite, and above it the word ‘Fairy’. Remember how the disguised wicked step-mother ate an un-poisoned part of the poisoned apple before giving it to Snow White.
There was a slow poison somewhere in that tea scene, it’s just a matter of working out where ?? Did Sherlock poison the apple Moriarty ate a wafer of ? Did he or Moriarty poison one of the cups ? Remember only one had a crown on. There was also time in that scene for Moriarty to switch cups.
I’d say the apple is just symbolism for the poisoning. Sherlock poisoned the tea and while Sherlock went to the kitchen for biscuits Moriarty noticed he couldn’t switch cups as one had a crown on and so best he could do is pour his tea into Sherlock’s cup and vice versa each drinking half the poison. Another possibility is it was Moriarty who mixed poison into the sugarbowl or Sherlock’s sugar supply, which over many cups of tea slowly poisoned Sherlock.
The potential for metaphor and foreshadowing in the ‘Hounds’ coffee scene can’t be overlooked. Sherlock making Watson coffee, “You never make coffee”,”You’ve put sugar in this. I don’t take sugar. Mmmm Good.”
Sherlock later analysed it for poison. There's also “Oh they’ve just had tea and biscuits, would you like to know who ate the wafer ?”.
The slow poison could have been Mercury, perhaps radio-active Antimony (symbol Sb, a JS Bach tie in ?) Or uranium oxide. Whatever it was Moriarty knew he had been poisoned and for the rest of the episode tried to get revenge on Sherlock (IOU and the poisoned children set-up. Mercury in the sugar sweets).
I’m not sure at what point Sherlock knew he had been poisoned until the “Molly I think I’m going to die.” There’s possible evidence for him conducting lab analysis during the forensics for the missing kids. There was a microscope visual of bacteria/cells that didn’t fit into the Chalk, Asphalt etc analysis.
I am more confident of the poison’s effect. Sherlock was actually dying. Dying possibly of a brain tumour induced by the poison. One of the effects of a brain tumour is heightened senses, much more in literary foreshadowing it must be said than in real life. Heightened hearing, taste, smell, e.g. identifying the cricket bat oil by tasting, the sugar compound by sniffing. Can anybody find others ??
Once his terminal illness was confirmed with Molly’s help, Sherlock knew that to receive treatment would incapacitate him, time Moriarty would certainly take advantage of. This is the reason Sherlock prepared to fake his own death.
The squeezy ball thing proves Sherlock went on that roof prepared to fall. Don’t you have to squeeze something while giving blood ?
Sherlock and Molly made sure they had Sherlock’s own blood on standby to treat serious injury.
Sherlock knew the best, non-fatal ways of falling from height having tested his theories on the henchman in ‘Scandal’
admitting to dropping him onto Mrs Hudson’s bins several times; also somewhat of a metaphor for Sherlock’s landing in the rubbish collection - alive but injured.
It really was Sherlock seriously injured on the pavement but the moment had been prepared for. Sherlock was quickly whisked away by the med team on standby via Molly for treatment, transfusion and long recovery.
Molly faking the PM. and death certificates.
A final note on the pulse. John couldn’t feel Sherlock’s pulse because John’s hand was being held by the woman with a pigtail who’s face we did not see.
There was a slow poison somewhere in that tea scene, it’s just a matter of working out where ?? Did Sherlock poison the apple Moriarty ate a wafer of ? Did he or Moriarty poison one of the cups ? Remember only one had a crown on. There was also time in that scene for Moriarty to switch cups.
I’d say the apple is just symbolism for the poisoning. Sherlock poisoned the tea and while Sherlock went to the kitchen for biscuits Moriarty noticed he couldn’t switch cups as one had a crown on and so best he could do is pour his tea into Sherlock’s cup and vice versa each drinking half the poison. Another possibility is it was Moriarty who mixed poison into the sugarbowl or Sherlock’s sugar supply, which over many cups of tea slowly poisoned Sherlock.
The potential for metaphor and foreshadowing in the ‘Hounds’ coffee scene can’t be overlooked. Sherlock making Watson coffee, “You never make coffee”,”You’ve put sugar in this. I don’t take sugar. Mmmm Good.”
Sherlock later analysed it for poison. There's also “Oh they’ve just had tea and biscuits, would you like to know who ate the wafer ?”.
The slow poison could have been Mercury, perhaps radio-active Antimony (symbol Sb, a JS Bach tie in ?) Or uranium oxide. Whatever it was Moriarty knew he had been poisoned and for the rest of the episode tried to get revenge on Sherlock (IOU and the poisoned children set-up. Mercury in the sugar sweets).
I’m not sure at what point Sherlock knew he had been poisoned until the “Molly I think I’m going to die.” There’s possible evidence for him conducting lab analysis during the forensics for the missing kids. There was a microscope visual of bacteria/cells that didn’t fit into the Chalk, Asphalt etc analysis.
I am more confident of the poison’s effect. Sherlock was actually dying. Dying possibly of a brain tumour induced by the poison. One of the effects of a brain tumour is heightened senses, much more in literary foreshadowing it must be said than in real life. Heightened hearing, taste, smell, e.g. identifying the cricket bat oil by tasting, the sugar compound by sniffing. Can anybody find others ??
Once his terminal illness was confirmed with Molly’s help, Sherlock knew that to receive treatment would incapacitate him, time Moriarty would certainly take advantage of. This is the reason Sherlock prepared to fake his own death.
The squeezy ball thing proves Sherlock went on that roof prepared to fall. Don’t you have to squeeze something while giving blood ?
Sherlock and Molly made sure they had Sherlock’s own blood on standby to treat serious injury.
Sherlock knew the best, non-fatal ways of falling from height having tested his theories on the henchman in ‘Scandal’
admitting to dropping him onto Mrs Hudson’s bins several times; also somewhat of a metaphor for Sherlock’s landing in the rubbish collection - alive but injured.
It really was Sherlock seriously injured on the pavement but the moment had been prepared for. Sherlock was quickly whisked away by the med team on standby via Molly for treatment, transfusion and long recovery.
Molly faking the PM. and death certificates.
A final note on the pulse. John couldn’t feel Sherlock’s pulse because John’s hand was being held by the woman with a pigtail who’s face we did not see.
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When is this brilliant actor going to be given the recognition he so deserves for his acting talents (and not just in Sherlock)? Can't believe it. 
