Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-11-23
The Mystery OF Suicide.

There is often an unfathomable mys-
terry about suicide. In some instances
sel!-destruetion tells its own tale. The
causes that lead to it are not in doubt.
But in others they are hidden from all
human eyes. No conceivable explana-
ton presents itself and the deliberation
and method attending the act only serve
to render 1t the more unaccountable. 1t
confounds the understanding when an
individual who seems to have every in
ducement to live voluntarily seeks death.
In such case the mystery can never be
solved. The grave is silent.
1t has been said that suicide is never
committed except when the functions of
the brain are impaired and the action of
the mind perverted and directed in i'm
proper channels. Yet history furnishes
instances which seem to destroy this
theory. Among the ancients self-de-
struction is sometimes considered an act
of courage and virtue. Cleopatra killed
herself by the poison of an asp in pref
erence to being carried in a trinmphal
procession to Rome by Augustus. The
Carthagenian Hannibal sought death
rather than surrender himself prisoner
to the Romans. Cato died by his own
hand to avoid living under the despot-
ism of Caesar. 1t is only by fine-spun
theory that such acts can be attributed
to q disordered brain.
Nine. de Stael believed that suicide
was sometimes justitiable. Gibbon and
Hume defended what most people re-
gard as crime. Communities have
differed as well as individuals in their
views of self-destruction. Suicide has
sometimes been pronounced felony, to
be followed by penalties after death in
the confiscation of the property of the
deceased and the refusal of a Christian
burial to his remains. To-day an at
tempt at suicide is made penal offense
under our new code.
In very many instances, doubtless,
disorder of the brain is the cause of sui
eide. An illustration of this was af-
forded by the case of Sir Samuel ROM
lily, the famous English Chancery law
Yer, who cut his throat while Temporal
rily insane through grief at his wife's
death. The loss of blood relieved the
pressure on the brain. restored the sui
cide's right mind and caused him to
look with horror on the deed.
The deliberate and scientific manner
in which suicides sometimes perform
their work is remarkable and does not
fit with the theory OF disordered brain.
The lamentable case at Utica is an il
lustration. There is no mystery about
the causes which led to that sad tragedy.
But the method with which Mr.. John.
son proceeded is most singular. He
had studied from work on anatomy
the exact position of the heart, and
directed the pistol with his left hand
while he pulled the trigger with his
right. The book lay open on the table.
He had left his lesson to carry its teach
ings into effect Lord Castlereagh. the
British statesman who killed himself
sixty years ago, studied anatomy to find
out the exact position of the carotid
artery, He attended lectures and dis
sections to perfect his knowledge, and
when confident in his skill ended his life
by seyering that artery with the point
of pen-knife,
Many singular suicides have recently
occurred. A boy fourteen years of age
killed himself not many weeks ago.
The suicide of Amasa Stone, the Cleve-
land millionaire, was remarkable.
Others quite as unaccountable are with
in everybody's recollection. How can
we account for such acts on the part OF
persons to whom it wosld appear that
life must be very desirable? Is it moi
true that there are skeletons in closets
of which the world does not dream, and
that the heart is closed book which nc
one but the man in whose frame II beats
can readp-M y WOrld.