Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-30
Suicides .in the District as
Noted BY Coroner.
REPORT: EQR'PAST YEAR
STRINGENT LAW AGAINST SALE
OF CARBoLIC ACID SUGGESTED.
Total of Fifty-Four Persons Accom-
plished Self Destruction in
Twelve Months.

SulcldeS IN the D1Str1Ct Oh COiuHlDld uaLiAS
the past year over the previous period OF
twelve month is the feature of the annual
report of the District coroner. DR.. ]. Ram
sey hewitt, which was submitted to the
Commissioners late this afternoon.
During the twelve months ending June
80 last there were no less than ffty-four
deaths by suicide. During the, twelve
month period ended June 80. 1892. there
were but thirty-two deaths by suicide. an
increase this year Of twenty-five deaths
or about seventy per cent.
In connection with this startling increase,
DR. hewitt makes a recommendation that
more stringent laws be enacted to govern
the sale OF carbolic acid. He believes If
this drug were more difficult to secure
many persons. bent suicide would be
deferred from following out their purpose
until their mind would undergo a change
and they would thus be eventually saved
from self destruction.
AS was the, case last year. however, the
favorite means Of self destruction was by
pistol shots. The number OF suicides dur
ing the past year by this method was f1f-
teen. as against nine the year previous
Carbolic acid takes rank as the next most
deadly means of suicide, no less titan eleven
such deaths being attributed to the drug In
Coroner Nevitt,s statement. Carbolic acid
also took second place the year before.
" ueH SIX OedllIS vert dtlItUulco " us OssO
During the past year no less than nine de-
tected persons shuffied off this mortal coil
by hanging themselves. The complete LIST
Of suicides by the various methods Is as fol-
lows:
Gunshot wounds. Is; jumping. 2: hanging.
8: cutting throat 2; cutting wrist. 1: opium
poison, l.; illuminating gas, decrease OF
two over previous year,; drowning, ); car
bollc acid, IL: irritant poison (unknown), /;
bichlOride OF mercury, /; total, Oh.
Soln 10 rorIo1ic Acid
On the subject Of the sale of carbolic acid
Coroner hewitt says:
In my last annual report referred to
the law governing the sale of carbolic acid.
1 repeat again that stringent regulations
as to the sale Of carbolic acid should be
made and enforced. 1 believe that If this
drug were not So easily obtainable, many
contemplating suicide would be deferred
from their purpose long enough to effect
rational change of mind and be saved
from self-destruction I am of the opinion
that this drug should be sold only on the
prescription of. a physician. Should the
applicant to the physician for carbolic acid
be unable to pay for such prescription he
could obtain, the same without cost from
any physician in the employ of the Dis
trct' 20.
Dr. hewitt states that the total number
of deaths Investigated by the coroner was
before. The cases investigated are CLASH
fed as follows: From natural causes.
Ola: violent deaths. 247: still births,
1856 Thirty asttopses were held in District
of Columbia cases; thirty-one in United
States cases. Thirty six inquests were held
and no less than ao6 bodies were taken to
the mOrgue.
The Homicides.
There were eighteen honlicides in the Dis
| trict and one legal hanging during the
year.
The violent deaths are classified as fol-
lows:
Accidental iniuries-Falls. blows, etc.,
| II; steam railroad accidents in District of
Columbia, 10: steam railroad. accidents not
In District of Columbia. 3: street railroad
accidents. in District Of Columbia. 8: cleo
trio shock. q gunshot wound. accidental,
2; burns of body. accidental. %; drowning
| accidental, 81: scalds. accidental. l. strang-
| ulation. accident. 8. Total. 154
Accidental poisoning by-Illuminating
| gas. 10: opium. 2: carbolic acid, /; ptomain,
l: bichloride OF mercury. 1: gasoline, l;
| chloroform narcosis. 3. Total. 10.
The expenses of the office during the year
| We're S., 363. 49,
| The report concludes with a statement as
to the force needed for the new morgue as
| follows:
| LAS our new morgue will be completed in
a few months additional money and an in
| crease in the number Of employees are abso-
Iulely neeueu, anu siOuio Do PROVIDED for IN
ample time TO meet the necessity. The f1nan-
cal needs Of the office are specified in a
| subjoined report. Notwithstanding the
| steadily increasing work of this Office since
| its establishment there has been no specific
| provision made for a morgue keeper or like
| assistant, this position being filled by de-
| tail of janitor from the police department
| The incumbent Is the first and only detail
| serving as such.
Assistant Mergue Keeper.
II respectfully recommend that a morgue