The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-27
steady Proportion Of SeIi.Infiict-
I'd DeafIis in England.

CW AbCt9lAAt 80 e@&~-o--
The BrittM Medical Journal has the fol-
lowing interesting article: @COnsidering
The abnormal mental condition that pro-
duces suicidal mania, there is room for
much speculation in the constantly steady
proportion Of suicides that occur year by
wear in tho European population. In the
reports Of the Register General the at
tempt 10 distinguish suicides from other
vidient deaths was first made in tho year
is5S, when 1916 cases OF suicide were
returned. It IL true that the annual
number Of suicides in England and Wales
have since 1858 slowly, but steadily, in
creased to 1892 in 1874. II, however,
the increase Of population in these seven,
teen years be taken into account; we
shall find that the proportion has been
remarkably constant. The annual num-
Der Of suicides to 100000 persons living
was equal to OF in each OF the three
quinquenniads ending 1854, 1869, and
1874. During the five years 1904 the
annual suicide rate was equal TO 70 per
100000 persons living in 1870. and the
lowest rate was Is in 1873. The 1902
deaths by suicide in 1874 included 1904
Of males and 3SS OF females; 5O7 resulted
from hanging, $40 from inciSed wounds,
principally in the throat; $50 from
drowning; 149 from poison, and SO from
gun-shot wounds; besides 1873 from other
Or ill.deGned injuries. Suicides are gen
erally more numerous in urban that in
rural populations; but tho variation in
their proportion in different parts Of the
country is not due TO this cause alone.
Taking the year 1878 as an example, this
being the most recent year for which the
Register General has yet published his de.
tailed annual report, the proportion OF
suicides to 100000 persons living in
England and Wales averaged 65, whereas
in London it was SO. We may here re-
mark that some statistics Of suicide In
London, recently published by the Metro
politan Police, have conveyed the CHROME.
Gus impression that the number OF sui
cides in the metropolis luctuates in re-
markable manner from year to year
This is by no means the case, rs the pro-
portion 10 population isalmost as CON
slant in London rs in the whole Of Eng,
land and Wales. The numbers published
in the Police report only show the sui.
ciles that come within tho knowledge OF
the Police; and it Is very evident
that, rs regards the number in some re-
cent years, either the Police only heard
Of small proportion Of the suicides that
occurred, or their returns show very
careless compilation. But, TO return e
tho proportion Of suicides in 1878 in dit
ferent parts Of England and Wales-tht
highest suicide rate occurred in the south
eastern countics-Surrey, Kent, Sussex
Hampshire and Berkshire; here, although
the population is principally rural, sui
cides in 1S73'we in the proportion o
So per million persons living, and some
what higher than in London. In thu
southwestern counties Of Wiltshire, Dor
setshire, Deyonshire, Cornwall, and Som
ersetshire, having also population prin
cipally rural, the suicide rate did not ex
coed 81 per l 200, 900, and in Wales It wa
so low as 80. II would be interesting L
observe the relation between the statistic
Of suicide and lunacy in the ditleren
counties, although we doubt whether an.
we'll defined connection between the tw'
could be established. Suicide, as Grim
in England is for more prevalent anon
the educated than the ignorant classes
and the proportion Of suicides appears Il
be in inverse ratio to the education o
the people. The frequency Of suicide ap
pears 10 be one OF the penalties resulting
from the progress Of so.called civiliza
ton, leading 10 intense competition"