Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-10
Perpetrated Under Singular Provoca
tions-A Queer Case OF Initiative
or Epidemic Suicide.
The Curious Reasons that Inspire Mel
and Women to the Dreadful Deed
Interesting Cases.

A poison was kept and given to the appli-
cant who made out his case before the m agis-
tracy. The same custom prevailed among
the Massilians, the ancient Inhabitants oil
Marseilles.
One of the most singular features of sui
eide is that it has been known 10 prevail
epidemically. If one person strikes out
some new method of self-destructioD, others
are sure 10 follow. Sir Charles Bell relates
a strange incident that occurred to the sur
geon who was Bells predecessor IN the Mid
dlesex Nondon) Hospital. The surgeon
went into a BARRIERS shop TO be shaved, and
the conversation turned upon man in the
hospital who had vainly attempted 10 cut
his throat.
"He could easily have managed it" said
the surgeon, "if he had been acquainted
with the situation OF the carotid artery. He
did not cut in the right place"
The barber quietly inquired as to where
he oug;.t 10 have cut; the surgeon thought
lessIy pointed out the exact position OF the
large vessels, and where they could be
wounded.
After little more conversation the barber
left the room, and not returning, the surgeon
went 10 look for him. He found him in the
yard with his head nearly severed from his
body.
This was a case of what the doctors call
epidemic or initiative suicide. Some years
ago a man hung himself on the threshold of
one OF the doors of the Hotel des Invalides,
Paris. No suicide had occurred for two
years before, but within fourteen days no
less than five invalids hung themselves on
that same cross-bar.
Plutarch relates that the women OF Miletus,
city of Ionia, were seized with an epidemic
mania for suicide. They were melanchoiy
because of the absence of their hush inds and
lovers who were away in battle. The women
hanged themselves in such numbers that
law was passed shat the body OF every
woman who hanged herself should be drag
ged naked through the streets by the same
rope with which abe committed the deed.'
This edict Immediately put an end to the
crime.
Suicide ia more common among men than
women. Married women and widows are
more prone to self-destruction than the un-
married, while the reverse is the case with
men, who, if about to marry or have the care
of family upon them, are not 80 apt to
commit suicide, while those untrammeied
with ties seem 10 care less for lif..
Men commit suicide by the pistol and by
drowning, women by poison and voluntary
faIls-that il, in the great majority OF cases.
People in every grade of life have recourse
to suicide as a ready escape from trouble, but
the causes which come highest in the list Of
reasons for self-destruction are insanity and
chronic disease.
Among the young disappointment in love
is the predominaling cause, and In France,
the land Of suicide and romance, an unfor-
tunate couple usually resolve TO perish to-
-gether. Some years ago boatman discov-
cred in the Seine mass which the stream
appeared to roll along with difficulty. Il
proved to be two bodies, that Of a young
girl and young officer. They had dashed
| their right feet and right hands together. A
ant 6orla rad haU
died together that they might be eternally
| united.
A singular suicide was that of a young
French lady OF rank, who killed herself
with her own fowling- piece because she had
no children 10 inherit her large fortune.
A mere desire to be talked of sometimes
leads people to take their own lives.
As George Ill was passing Green Park,
London, gentleman, seeing the royal car
riage approach, stuck paper addressed to
the king in the railing When the carriage
was Immediately opposite him, the man dis
charged pistol into his breast and fell
dead. The suicide was gentleman who had
held a government position, bat had been
suspended.
A Frenchmsp, who had been Tilted, in
formed his servant that he intended 10 kill
himself, and requested him after his death
TO make a csndle of his fat and carry il
lighted to his lady-love, so that she might
see tn at as he had burned for her his fame
was now real, for the candle by which she
read the note was composed of his miserable
body. He committed suicide after writing
the letter.
In the reign of terror, Nine. Augine, sister
TO Mme de Cdmpan, expected TO die by the
tyranny of Robespierre. She declared she
would kill herself rather than be euillo-
tined. In vain Nine. de Campan urged her
to wait the arrival of the order of arrest,
telling her that something might arise TO
prevent her fate even at the moment of
greatest danger, but the guards arrived as
she was speaking, and Nine. Augine ran to
the roof of the house, threw herself of, and
was taken up dead. AS they were carrying
her corpse 10 the grave the pall-bearers were
Obliged to turn aside to let the cart pass
which conveyed R,bespierre 80 the scaffold.
The nearest approach the writer has ever
heard of a pan making his quietus with al
most bare bodkin was that Of a Greenwich
pensioner, who stabbed himself 10 death with
his spectacles, which he had sharpened to q
point for that purpose.
In 1871 young lady at Bath, moving in
high life and fond of high play, gambled
away her whole fortune and hanged herself.
A relation was inhuman enough TO remark,
on being told of her suicide, "Indeedi Then
she has tied herself up from play"
Ooe of the most singular attempts at sui
eide was that made by an Italian named
Lovat in 1903. He was a shoemaker at
Venice, and determined TO cruelty himself
He provided the nails, ropes, bands, crown
OF thorns, etc Seeing that it would be diff
| fculf to nail himself TO the cross, be m ade a
net which ne fastened over il, securing it at
| the bottom of the upright beam a little be-
| low the bracket he had placed for his feet
and at the ends of the two arms. The whole
apparatus was securely tied by two ropes,
one from the net and the other from where
the beams intersected each other. These
ropes he fastened to the bar above them.
Then taking off his clothing, he girded his
loins with a handkerchief, and put on his
crown of thorDs. Next he got into the net
| and seating himself on the cross, drove q
nail through the palm of his right hand
placed his feet on the bracket, and with 8
mallet drove nails through his feet. Next he
| tied himself to the cross, and wounded him.
self in the eide. All this he did inside his
own room, but he was bent on showing him
self in public. To accomplish this he placed
| the foot of the cross upon the window.
sill, which was very low, and by the aid
of his left arm, which was free, he
tilted the whole machine out of the win
| dow, and there he hung by the two ropes
which were fastened to the beam. His de-
sire for display defeated his own ends, for,
| being seen Immediately, people rushed up
and hauled him IN, cross and all, disen-
gagged him, put him to bed and sent for a
doctor Lovat submitted 10 treatment. He
had injured no vital part, and in the course
of a couple of weeks his wounds were healed.
He never again attempted to cruelty himself
or 10 take his own life.
In our country suicide is becoming 80
prevalent, unless the circumstances are al
| tended with some uuusual horror, like that
of Mrs. Seguin, who recently murdered her
| three children as well as herself, they awake
little more than . passing shudder-
The American woman has begun to be as
| familiar with the use of the pistol as man,
rendering suicide much more easy OF accom-
plishment than when her only means OF SELF
| destruction were by water, poison or the
rope. The checking of suicide Is surely OF
as much importance as any other question
affecting life and happiness, and ii some OF
our great scientists and philanihropists
would show Us how to 30 securely fasten IN
| the closet that skeleton which continually
| breaks out, a domestic will-of-the-Wisp,
| Turing the wretched to , violent death, then
would our Herbert Spencers be doing hu-
mainly an appreciable service.
Some correspondence has occurred In La
| Nature with regard to 3 statement BY De
Brouardelli that girl who lately committed
suicide BY jumping from one of the towers Of
| Noire Dame had probably died from
| asphyxia caused by the rapid fall. The
| criticisms have thus been summarize I'd;
N Rontemps points out that the depth