Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-04-07
Climate and Weather as Influencing
Sujcida


Life, say the European writer's, seems
less valuable in the cold, dark, gloomy
regions Of the north, q fact long ago OBJ
served by Tacitus when speaking of the
Germans, and remarked upon by Mont
csquieu rs related to the damp, sad cli-
mate of England. The parallel of great
est suicidal activity appears to be fifty
degrees north. Yet Italy, under its
changed conditions, though its climate
is the softest, has shown a considerable
increase since statistics have been kept
Extremes of heat and cold lessen the
tendency to suicide; that is, it is less in
very warm countries and in very cold
countries. The smallest average per
million is In Portugal, Corsica, Calabria
Qtaly), Sardinia and Sicily. 1t is little
higher in the south of France and Venice
and still higher in Central France, Swift
Zerland and Bavaria, which are near the
same isothermal line. On the isothermal
line of about 90 degrees Fahrenheit the
percentage greatly varies, being 50 per
million in the United States, in Ireland
16, in England ca, the north of Belgium
55, the Netherlands 80, Hanover 140,
Prussia on the Rhine and Westphalia 20,
Prussian Saxony 22S, Kingdom of Sax
ony $40, Bohemia 100 and Moravia-
Silesa 155. These nations are so
different in race, religion, habits
and surroundings that they cannot
easily be appoximated. Saxony,
Central Prussia, Schcswig- IIolstein
and Denmark, which are on line of
severe winter cold, show a heavy pro-
portion of violent deaths. From these
facts it is inferred that the line of suicide
crosses Europe from northeast to south
west, and this may serve as rule, though
there are exceptions for clinical and
other reasons. There are more suicides
in the north of France than in the south
of it and mere in the northern provinces
of Italy than in the southern. 1t would
be difficult to apply these rules in the
Unites States, climate and social condi-
tions show such diversity. Our Cali
fornia climate is exceptionally charming,
but tho suicides per million, in San Fran
cisco alone, were last year about 250, n
greater average than any other part of
the world can exhibit, n few localities eX-
cepted. 1t is little surprising that the
effect of fixed meteorological condition
upon the human system, and through
the physical upon the mental state, has
never been taken into calculation. Pro-
longed states of weather tend to strain
and disorder mind and body, while fire.
quent change and activity of the elements
tend to relieve and stimulate it. Madness
in dogs is commonest in ng-continued
spells of very cold. dry weather. or in
similarly protracted states of heat and
drought, while men and women are un
nerved and disorganizcd by the same
causes. Our long periods of cloudless
weather in California become monoto-
nous and dispiriting, while our north
winds blowing constantly fatigue, irri-
tate, exhaust and have, during this Win
ter at least, most undoubtedly increased
the deaths by violence as well as those
by disease. They may not be considered
as sole cause, but they seize on and en-
aggerate every melancholy predisposi-
tion.-San francisco Chronicle.