Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-24
SUICIDES FEWER
IN TEN CITIES
Pacific Slope Leads, San Diego
Having 43-2 Per Cent;
1917 Lowest

Suicides in 1917 in 100 American
cities showed a rate of I6-s per 1OO.-
600 of population against an average
OF 1913 for the preceding years since
1907 The subject was reviewed in n
recent issue of the Spectator. an in
surance paper. by Frederick l. Hoff-
man. statistician of the Prudential
Insurance Company.
he says the rate proves the reIa-
ton or suicidal frequency to economic
conditions. as reflected in the propor-
ton OF business failures, which was
exceptionally low during last years
commercial and industrial activities.
In his opinion, however, the suicide
evIl anords a field for the corrective
influences of prevalent medicine, of
the churches and OF society.
Last years rate was the lowest in
seventeen years The figure was 217
in 1908. 20.5 in 1911, 2O.7 in 1914, and
l1.6 in 1916. Suicides last year in
creased in twenty-four cities and de-
creased in seventy-six. In Manhat-
tan and the Bronx the rate was 143,
or z2.I per cent less than the aver
age OF the preceding four years. In
Brooklyn it was 11.S. a decrease of
ll.S per cent: in Hoboken 12.S, a de-
crease Of 56.3 per cent. but in New
port 22-S, an increase of 67.2 per cent
Golden Gates Bad Distinction
San Diego, San Francisco and Sac
ramento. with 1917 rates leading the
list with 43.2, AIS and 1913. respec-
lively, prompt the reviewer to say
that suicidal frequency is higher in
California than in any other section
OF the country. though each of these
cities showed in 1911 decreases from
, the preceding average.
The urban suicide rate declined in
every section of the country last
year. that tendency being most pro-
nounced in the Southern States and
next in the Pacific States. In the 100
cities used for the tables. the white
rate last year was 22.6 and the negro
rate Sc. The general rate was 1875
per 100000 in cities of less than $780,
600 population, and III for cities of
more than 250.000. The highest rate,
SO. was in May. and the lowest 7.5 in
December.
Firearms caused ia per cent, of
tion, 10.9; asphyxiation, 1I.7s pierre
ing instruments. 3.3; drowning. S.6:
jumping from high places. 3; crush
ing. s, and other methods. 1.6. Sol
diers and sailors supplied 76 suicides
last year. and 266 in the period of
1913-1917. compared with 21s in 1905
1912 and 179 In 1903-1907.
Calls II Appalling Waste
Regardless of the fact that self
murder has become almost common
place, MT. HOFFMAN says, the sub
tect is receiving practically no con-
sideration from church or safe. As
a problem in social economies, the
waste OF human lives Is more ap-
palling than the corresponding and
largely inevitable sacrifice OF life in
| every day industry. Against the estf-
mated number of nearly 1900 sui
cfdes in the continental United States
during 1917. there were certainly not
more than $4,000. possibly not more
than $4,000, fatal Industrial accidents.
"Just as on the one hand, the
church Is Indifferent. for practically
no suicide attracts the slightest at
tention of the pulpit. so. on the other
hand. the state is Indifferent. for no
qualified and thorough investigation
of the question has ever been made
by public authority, Equally indifrer-
ent is the press. for It Is the rarest
occurrence that suicide attracts
editorial attention, And fully as in
comprehensive is the apathy of ap-
piled psychology. which. though con-
cerning itself with practically every
other aspect of the aberrant mind,
leaves suicide untouched. as appar-
emily subject of no public concern"