The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-06
THE ROUTE TO KINGDOM COME.
Hints TO Suieides-A New Era in Self-De-
structiOn at Hand-Recherch Methods,
San Francisco Alta.

alarming IN SUICIDE except JIG 9IaVLo'iN0- NS
moral aspect of selfmurder is rarely uppermost
in the minds Of newspaper readers shudderlng
over a report of man who has shutffed himself
into eternity, and the handspring of horror is
four ID only in the stupidity revolving methods
used in discarding terrestrial responsibilities for
the celestial gamble. The statistics OF suicides
show that it is prominently California diver
sion, but while refreshing versatility is shown in
the details of the means adopted, most Of the
means are of a very low artistic order, and San
Francisco suicides show execrably poor taste
in making a forced balance of their earthly
accounts Humane societies may scientific
ally consider the cause of suicide, and
may impress into the social economy some pre-
veutiys principles; but, until the millennium
dawns, self-slaughter will continue in greater or
less popularity, and real philanthropy will cease
trying to put an end to it, moro sensbly turning
its efforts to ameliorating the condition of the
subject in articulo mortis and improving the
suicidal surroundings for easier shock to the
feelings Of the bereaved relatives and friends. A
majority Of the cases of suicide reported are
marked by a most reprehensihe Indifference on
the part of the leading character to posthumous
details Engrossing selfshness is too often
shown from the time of the first grim resolve,
until the moment when the rejected spirit is
started skyward, and the result is an unreasona'
bic number of petty annoyances to the sur
viving friends Of the deceased. When
man has determined to cut himself loose
into aerial fight, tho least that can be
asked of him is that he shall do it with
some regard for style and the family convent
ence. That so many suicides fail in this i'm
portant particular may be due to ignorance,
but the cowardly fool who concludes that he can
not face the music of human existence can save
his memory the discredit of undeserved sus-
picion of sel6shness if he will paste this article
I'm his hat and, in his ante -mortem preparations,
follow its instructions No man with an atom OF
pride Will try to blow out his brains. 1t the
first place. the report of the pistol will disturb
the neighborhood, ard bring too many persons
to the family residence before the other occu-
pants of the house are prepared to receive call
ers. Secondly, nervousness may result in I'M
steady shooting, and the bullet may cause only
a household excitement and a doctors bill, with
out taking fatal effect Thirdly, under the
most favorable circumstances, when death
may be instantaneous the shooters
features are spoiled for death-bed photograph
or q coffin exhibition, and the bed-clothes and
carpet will be damaged by the outgushing of
poltrOOn blood making too much extra work
where no servants are employed. Suicide by
shooting has not single feature to commend
it. and the troublesome uncertainty of the opera
ton has already caused it to be tabOoed in the
most select circles
Suicide by hanging is hideous affair, resort
ed to only by the most plebean minds, and is
rank injustice TO Iue SulCl06S poSIetllHs
the way to no end of SANDER when pos
terity is making a campaign on highly
moral issues. Ropes and suspender
straps may break and if they do
not choking brings an ugly discoloration of the
face and bullying of eye balls; and in addition to
these disadvantages, the subject is in constant
danger of being cut down before life is extinct,
and of being forciby restored to the privilege of
paying poll-ta In suicidal ethics drowning is
allowable only when man can slip overheard
unseen, from an ocean steamer, at night, with
out chance to swim to land or be picked up by
q life boat. That man ranks lowest in record
who rushes frantcally to the end of wharf,
jumps into the bay, shouts for help, is rescued
by Ee harbor police and spoils the best part of the
evening for the City Hospital attendants, who have
TO pump him out and put his name on the prison
register against charge of drunk. Throat
outing is open to the objections Of being noto-
riously uncertain in effect and shockingly untdy
in the diffusion of blood. Gore is in no way
necessary to suicide, and any method of life
taking requiring an exposure of the crimson life
liquid should be rejected according to the scien-
tifc standard. If there be any man in San
Francisco who is sincere in his professions of
deep-aeated desire to die, there is use for him
TO tarry a single day longer to provoke himself
or his associates.
Poison iudiciously taken, opens the way to
the quietest peasantest, neatest and most GER
tain escape from earthly life. Two commonly
taken poisons should be studiously avoided
carbolic acid and strychnine. For some
unaccountable reason, carbOlic acid has
been in favor with suicides. Its
coal-tar origin ought to condemn 1t for aristo-
cratic minds, and an understanding of its action
will peg it back several holes for local use. 1t is
an irritant and an@sthetic, causing sharp pain,
followed by numbness. When taken in proper
doses it inspires the patient with a three-minute
idea that he has swallowed an internal machine
and then he collapses The lining of the stom-
ach is deliberately eaten by the poison, with
convulsive accompaniment, and the doctrine of
hell on earth is demonstrated beyond dispute A
fnt akipO arholic oci1 &c tha
range in the dose required for fatal result. Half
an ounce has been known to kill, and patients
have recovered after taking ounce and a half.
The recovery requires several weeks Of suffer
Strychnine deserves no respectable standing
in the list of fool-killers 1t is made from nux
vomica sugar of lead, solution of ammonia and
rectifed spirits. 1t is most violent poison. and
most horrible in effect. In the slightest guam
tity its presence is betrayed by twitching of the
muscles and stiffness.
In fatal doses its action is speedy and sudden
coming like a rent bill when there isn't dol
lar in the house. The patient takes his dose.
thinks of heaven and suddenly jumps for it in
Groco Roman CONFUSION, his internal econ
omy being gnawed with forty horse power and
his muscles jumping with the activity of
q sprint runner. There temporary re-
laXations of commissions, but they only
enable the poison to get new cable grip.
Through the entire performance the sufferer
does not lose consciousness and the stry chime
suicide invariably gets himself disliked by shout
ing and grooming for help that he does not de
serve. Sometimes death is suddenly closed by
pain locking the chest in a general respiratory
spasm, the subject dying from exhaustion, but
these cases are far apart, like prizes in Chinese
lottery. The City Hospital record shows large
proportion of strychnine suicides, and it would
be a public benefaction to run strychnine out of
the suicide market.
Arsenic is good agent of suicide, aud its use
is to be encouraged as an advancing step from
strychnine. 1t is in white powder, almost taste
Jess, and when taken with sugar is pleasant at
table for dessert 1t is violent irritant act
ing with great energy, and destroying life in a
short time. The time of taking effect varies,
sometimes being delayed until eight or nine