The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-01-05
Strange Suicides.


60. s.,..a..
90 .O'sAsc c.l'.' ~ ~
I Suicide has slwavs been 4 method Of
ESCAPING the ills that flesh Is heir to, more
OF less favored by humanity In the
purer DAYS of Greece and Rome, self.
murder Was recatded IS a crime, and by
way of punishment the BODY was sub
iected to disOrace. In 3reece. for in
stance. the corpse was buried inste d Of
being burned. In most of the countries
Of antiquity. however. suicide was con-
,idered an act of courage, as disem-
boweiing is even now in China, and in
some places was even lawful act. In
the island of Geo, the magistrates had
the power of determining whether q
person had sufficient reasons for killing
himself. 7s5 81, raF = rff1a. tnu.1 -
A poison was kent and given to the
applicant who made out his case before
The maoistracy. The same custom pre-
vailed among the Massilians, the ancient
inhabitants Of Marseilles.e ,a4 y
One of the most singular features of
suicide is that it has been known to pre-
vail epidemica!ly. II one person strikes
out some new method of self-destruction,
others are sure to follow. Sir Charles
Bell relates a strange incident that oc-
Cured to the surgeon who was Bells
predecessor in the Middlesex, London,
Hospital. The surgeon u went into
barber-shop to be shaved. and the con-
yersation turned upon man in the hos
pital who had vainly attempted to cut
his throat. ~ nf.t.'A .i'i''i hH...''
ssHe could easily have managed it,"
said the surgeon, '.if he had been ac-
quainted with the situation of the carotid
artery. He did not cut in the right
place"
i The barber quietlyinquired as to where
he ought to have cut. The surgeon
thOughtlessly pointed out the exact po-
sition of the large vessels, and where
they could be wounded.
After q little more conversation the
barber left the room, and not returning.
the surgeon went to look for him. He
found him in the yard with his head
nearly severed from his body. H-'
This was q 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. acity OF Iona, were seized with
an epidemic mania for suicide. They
were melancholy because of the absence
of their husbands and lovers who were
away in battle. The women hanged
themselves in such numbers that law
was passed "that the body OF every
woman who hanged herself should be
dragged naked through the streets by the
same rope with which she committed the
deed" This edict Immediately put an
end to the crime. 81
Suicide is more common among men
than women. Married women and
widows are more prone to self destruc.
ton than the unmarried, while the re-
verse is the case with men, who, if
about to marry or have the care OF
family upon them, are not so apt to
commit suicide. while those untram-
meled with ties seem to care less for life.
Men commit suicide by the pistol and
by drowning, women by poison and vol
untary falls-that is, in the great ma
iority of cases. ne, bur oarirr .qa.
People in every grade of life have re-
course to suicide as ready escape from
trouble. but the causes which come high
est in the list of reasons for self-destruc-
ton are insanity and chronic diseases.
. Among the Young disappointment in
love is the predominatino cause, and in
France, the land of suicide and romance,
an unfortunate couple usually resolve to
perish together. Some wears ago boat
man discovered in the Seine a mass
which the stream appeared to roll along,
with difficulty. It proved to be two
bodies, thst of young girl and Young
officer. .r They hadlashed their right feet
and right hands together. A letter writ
ten on parch nent declared that thew died
together that thev might be etecnallv
united. aa' - ha'N-'HrT ,1"i'H' I.
= A singular suicide was that of young
French lady of rank who killed herself
with her own fowling piece because she
had no children to inherit her large for
tune.
A mere desire to be talked of some
times leads people to take their own
lives. r..,.... -.rr.g ~.
As George III. was passing Green
Park, London, gentleman seeing the
royal carriage approach. stuck a paper
addressed to the King on the railing.
When the carriage was Immediately Op-