Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-05-16
To Suicides
Commencing.
Observation-Disclosures

Tie advertisement in the newspaper
ran as follows: Suicides commencing
These should write for appointment
to Rex Blake, ~ Uppingdon Gardens,
South Kensington.
Herbert Streuth. artist, received an
appointment for 9:3O on Wednesday
afternoon He called at the South Ken
sington address and was shown into a
solidly furnished library. where podgy
little old gentleman with white hair
shook him warmly by the hand and
bade him to be seated
81 am very pleased to see you, Mr.
Streuth, and l trust that 1 may be of
some service to you-in fact, that we
may be of service to each other. But /
must begin by asking you a plain cues
ton. which you will answer truthfully
and in one word Is your intended sui
eide connected in any way with severe
poverty or overwhelming financial
losses?'
mo. said Streuth, II am consider
ed believe, to be fairly well of .
Delighted to hear it," said Mr.
Blake. rubbing his chubby hands to-
gether. now we will proceed 1 tell
you frankly that with me this thing is
Il business ana nothing .but a business
If you decide that can serve you l
shall expect moderate fee Now, what
are the principal objections to suicide2'
THE law does not permit it" said
Streuth
Precisely. but in the case of the
successful suicide the law is not asked.
1t says that you may not take your life
away. but if you do it cannot compel
you to take it back again or punish you
in any way We can leave the law out.
"There is also the religious objec-
tion. said Streuth.
Many very religious people, " replied
Mr. Blake. "have not found it cogent
Take the case, by no means an uncom-
mon one, where the death of one man
may be an inestimable benefit to many
to when he is really sincerely attached.
Is an act of self sacrifice to be regarded
as crime2 No; it seems to me that
each suicide must be judged on its own
merits. taking into consideration the
motives and beliefs of the person suicid-
ing. ANY other opinions?''
~ know none, Streuth answered
'In fact. | have not been thinking
much about it want to get cut of
things. don't ask myself if there are
any objections or not dent care if
there are any objections.
"You surprise me. said Mr.. Blake
You are artist, and yet it has not
occurred to you that the manner cf the
suicide is of essential Importance The
throat cutting is very dirty, and the
same objection applies to the use of
firearms. Have little foresight Imag-
inc what you look like afterward, and
the state of the bedclothes. and all the
rest of it.
81 was intending, said streuth. Ito
drown myself
81 have here, said Mr.. Blake. ga
little work on forensic medicine There
are some interesting chapters on the
signs by which you can tell the length
of time the body has been in the water
Did you ever hear of adipocere? There
is an elegant little description of it in
this passage Just read it.
StreuIh took it and read few lines
al can t stand this. - he said; ''it is too
nauseous.
81 thought you would see it in that
light. Mr.. Blake replied ''People
mostly 90 Wnen put II 10 them. You
really can't tell what rivers s going to
do to you 1t may give you back at
once. or it may keep you for a bit.
Even if it gives you back at once you
don't look pretty Here's description
of the face of a man taken cut of the
Thames on
''You needn't go on with that. l
bave given up the idea of drowning
myself There is still poison. A little
prussic acid and the bother is all over.
Excellent, said Mr.. Blake. "If you
know the right dose. you die almost
Immediately. But you We got an awful
moment If you don't know the right
dose, you have very bad time. You
will be found with your hands violently
clinched, your eyes glistening and your
pupils dilated, and you will shrek just
before your death Unpleasant. isn't
it9'
"Wen. said streuth. "there are
other poisons .
''An are open to objections Chloral
may kill you comfortably CT make you
sick Other anesthetics may lead to