Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-12
Number of

From 10 to 100 years NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 3
These figures would seem to indicate
that from 20 to so years of age is the
period of life when the greatest number of
people lay down the burden of their own
accord. The inference is suggested that
Iife's first disappOintments are the most
trying. Il is to be observed, however,
that the whole number Of inhabitants in
1880 between the ages of 20 and so was
more than FIVE times that between the
ages of 60 and 20, while the number of
reported suicides for 1928 is only 70 per
cent. greater. Had the number of suicides
between 20 and 30 years of age
been relatively as great rs the
number between so and 20, it would have
been 500, instead of 165. This would sug-
gest the inference that the discourage
ments of age are more fatal than early
disappointment.
One thing that is striking, to say the
least, seems to have escaped the Chronicles
attention. That is, the large number of
suicides at the age of 20, %, 80, s.. 40, and
so on, as compared with the Intervening
ages. There were Is suicides 10 years of
age, and then came the first marked in
crease to %, 20 years of age. The midway
station between 20 and 80 is not specially
marked, but there were 81 suicides 80 years
of age, and the number aged 20 was not
equaled at any point between the two ages.
The number from 81 to 81 years of age in
elusive was only 81, while the number 35
years of age was 48. From Sc to SO in
elusive was only 26, while the number
40 years of age was So. The number
from Al to A. inclusive was 20 while the
number 45 years of age was 25. From 40
to 40 inclusive was only II, while the mum
Der so years of age was 40. From 81 to 81
inclusive the number was II while the
number SO years of age was l.. From sc
to 80 inclusive the number WIS II, while
the number go years of age was 80. From
81 to Ga inclusive the number was 20, while
the number Go years of age was %. From
&C to 60 inclusive the number was 10, while
the number 20 years Of age was IL. No
age above that shows a record of more
than five suicides for the year. The whole
number of suicides from 20 to 40 years OF
age was 576, Of whom 800, or nearly 81 pei
cent. were Of the ages that have been spe
ciaIly noted-20, %, 80, and so on.
Now, it seems little remarkable that,
commencing with the age of 90, the fifth
years up to and including seventy should
be more fatal than all the other years put
together. HE differences here are mucI
more striking and sustained than in thu
matter of the seasons. These would seen
to be pretty well defined suicidal climate
RIGS. An inspection of the table shows
that they do not correspond at all with tn
imaginary septennial climacterics of ou
forefathers, except at the ages of 90 AM
So. 1t seems not unlikely that there ma,
be psychological reason for the climac
terics indicated in the table. Most peopl
particularly note the years named NOR
than others, and morbid minds are apt t
attach special and undue Importance t.
them. A man broods over the fac
that he is 80, or 35, or
years old, as the case may be, and yet b
has not accomplished some object he hs
set before him, and he falls into the stat
of mind in which he is prepared to yiel
to suicidal impulse. The climacteric phs
nomenon is strongly enough marked
demand an effort at explanation, and til
foregoing is submitted as the most plaus
BILE that suggests itself at present.
As to the assigned causes of suicide, the
are comparatively few in number. Fo
lowing are the principal of them, in til
order of their importance,with the numbt
assigned to each: