New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-19
rrysLIAWs RELATING TO SUICIDE.


Adde'S, by Il. T.. GuEssrY BiFOGE THE MEDICAL
JOURNAL AND LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS.
A paper upon "Pcnal Laws Relating to SUP
eide in Ancient and Holtra Tins was reld as even
inc b-5gc the Medical Library and Journal Association
ri No. 1U7 Fast Twenyeg hih-st. by H. Gnrisey. Inc
substance ~ the report ~ follows:
lie said that the Term penal laws" not used In Its
narrow legal in its broacst sense OF penalty 81
every Kind IN connection with this subject rs the pen
alN to a suic.e act only ulon his reputation anu
that OF the friends that ho leaves behind. ire olh-
emily il 70 determine what is the most efec-
tive prev. non. The Grst instance In jewish
history That OF Saul aud his armorbeaier ~ the year
1055 =. C. simson'- death cannot be properly calico
sitidc Public opinion was against suic!oc among tue
Jews, according 20 Joscrhus az ho law required burial
after sunset. In Oriental countries snrue - 's'fe"e"
to he neritorios the authority Of the ancient sacred
books of the Uinioos In China suicide has been no
crime for thousands Of years In japan, when an Official
has committed ocnse. II one has hcen committed
N lis department. 1t is point OF honor
f0r him To- pat IN end 10 MS me- Ior
which tie arc often Rewarded aHei"arn-
II these customs wcro introduced here in such cases we
should probably have NOR, faithful administration OF
~rhc trust Suicides would be frequent. hnt the
pulc wOud have loss reason 10 lament their occur
ranc, and e-amrrs The st0ics held that srdcs:ric-
tion was not necessarily immoral. hut frequently nr9S"-
the corpse of - suicide rcmnincd INQUIRED.
FvtbagoraS Plato Aristotle. Cicero Apulius C|sar.
general popOsiU the laws -! the Greeks ana Romans
REQ lnizad suicde n right. Az Darseiuts poison
was kent on hand FOR those who could prove sun ent
causr but al OF prohibited under penalty OF
disgrace 10 Their renan' The hihcnian law or
diurl that tie hand hch I'D the deed should be cut
or and burned part from the body PlutarcL relates
That "A deCiec issued t''dt The bodies of The MI
lcsan virgins who committed suicide should Dc ragged
M acI through tic streets by the rope win wh,h the
deed Wa committed. As II unia shicnabo IL commit
suicide IN an other thn y hanging this pat
stop t. II. III" first j. man Law aSdlst ~ as thcttu
I'm tc reign of IafHinu Ir>cils, 800 l.. o. lladian,
.bout III, r. C., ordered that soldiers who attempted
sefleStricon Tor other reasons than diSsr ana dread
of djs mace should be punished by the cODhsVl.iOn OF
IA; ir prgpcriy The aitiiUd' of the Roman srs r, The
views Of tie Roman Catholic Chlrri. III ths hist
century the Council OF The bishops Of Aries ordained
mat religious rites should b. performed oNcr The
.,raye of sricie nor said for his soul. While
thrrc arr several passa in tine Eihe condemnne sui
eide there Is nuthing strictly foIbidrs IT, AFTER no
the Inerb-fs al lbs Christian church took tie ground
stanrrs RENDERED void the decree against the rites ~
burial. ~ ciy ii1"n progressed the laws IN REGARD to
suicide NarlUl.iN lUii'i III hc'uftaHFr Win th-
idea. Tn" forfeiture TO property WAS The greatest points
consi1cic<i.
Wnrn se...nrdcr Is caused by the cement OF
anot l. party by the sid s OF N"W-l OH suiity
al helm accessory fO luirlcr. This IN tire old
Roman laws, and II has been handed down to the present
In regard 10 wills and insurance policies. the m"r,
act Of s.iidc acrdfd il not proof OF INSANITY Ihu
b. proved by ifs IL. H. II the duty of state To
protrct us people destruction fiom every source
me natural love lie and the fear Of death are the
htr0ng,s. lreyeHtivCs of suicide yet To create higher
moral gfrRe against suicide, rs against any clllnc, can
much It's frequency. Man ~ the Only AM
NAL with one exception, is known To cun!iii SELF
destruction. The scorpion, rs drScrintd ny ~ Vn
wri.Les the agony oil death wrought by his own act