Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-25
SUICIDES BLAMED
ONSTRENU0USAGE
Or. Joseph Leidy Says Men n
to 30 Kill Themselves Due
to Struggles
WOMEN BUSIER; FEWER DIE

1Why did more Philadelphians. men
and women. take their lives between the
ages Of twenty one and forty last year
than at any other age period?
That they did do it is shown from
the statistics of the coroner's office.
just published. In 1919 onl ythrce sui
cides were reported of persons under
twenty one. But between the ages of
twenty one and thirty fifty one persons
took their lives. while forty five com
mitted suicide in the age period from
thirty TO forty And from forty on
the number Of suicides fell off. though
there were fifteen between tho ages OF
seventy and eighty. and one who had
passed the century mark.
A possible explanation Of the great
number of persons guilty of self'murdcr
In what usually are called the best years
of mans life Is furnished by DIR.
Joseph Lcidy. noted physician aud
student of psychology.
"This is the period of struggle,
said Doctor Ledy. 'the time in man s
life. usually, when he find problems
pressing hardest And in a considera-
ton of the absolute number of suicides,
Il must be borne in mind that the
last year has been pretty strenuous
one. with heavy strain on every one.
Statistics Not Kell2Die
"StatistiCS Of course are never en-
tirely satisfactorily Generally speak
ing. they are less than reliable. Medi-
cal statistics generally are good illus
tration of this. For instance it is
commonly said that cancer is on the in
crease. The greater cancer death rate
Is frequent topic of conversation. The
danger of cancer must not be lost
sight of. But more important is to
remember that cancer can almost al
ways be cured. if the physicians shas
chance to combat it at the start.
1--WE talk OF the increase of such
diseases as cancer. basing our opinion
on the mortality statistics. overlooking
the fact that other infectious diseases
in the last twenty five years have been
reduced to n minimum. Typhoid. diph-
liberia. smallpox, yellow fever. malaria.
Fave ceased to be reported as causes OF
death. Medicine largely has eXtirpated
them. There remain the chronic diseases
for which no specific remedy has been
found. We must remember that men
must die of some disease.
I'm considering the death rate from
diseases. or the nurlber Of deaths III
city like Philadelphia by suicide.
another factor to be considered is the
tremendous increase in population.
Roughly. the population Of city dou-
bles in every generation "t twenty
years or so. Philadelphia has grown
In this ratio.
Sex Variance Feature
The suicide statistics in regard to
sex offer another interesting subject
of speculation. Sixty four women
took their lives in 1919. in comparison
TO l3I men. Doctor Lcidy believes this
difference is due to the more constant
occupation of women.
"A housewife has little time to spend
in brooding." said Doctor Leidy. The
mind of a man who is out of work
,ffers fertile field for the suggestion
that he take his own life. This is
especially true here IN the United
States. whore We have no hobbies. \
nobby is a good balancing pole. 1t adds
Is maintaining mental equilibrium.
.r'The difference in the number of
negroes and whites who committed
,uic:de also is interesting. The report
,hows that only four negroes took their
ives. while there were l9I white
suicides This is perfect reflection
Of the negro temperament, which can
be content with the minimum of those
things which We consider necessary to
make life even bearablc.
THE statistics of agents used for
self destruction, in which certain sorts
n poison are mentioned many times.
demonstrate the need for moro careful
regulation of the sale of such drugs.
SIN America, unfortunately. We live
1t a tremendous rate. Indeed. We have
lot learned how to live. II is matter
If simple existence with us. ! think
q is rather a reflection on our system Of
ducation that We teach children every
hing but how to live. With all our
loasted progress. We have learned moth
ing about the true philosophy of life.
which makes it possible for a man to
ret the best and trucst kind OF happi-
less out of the everyday resources at
lis hand.
This hurried and badly balanced
way of cXiStcucc j. maladv of the
time. 1t is blamed by some observers
on our climate. which is believed to
1--WE us that restless desire for change
which seems to be- national character
stic. ! do not believe this. Our fore
fathers knew how to live rationally."