The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-02-06
SUICIDE IN u. S.
JUMPS IN 1921
Rate Increases From 1874 to
1871 for 100000 of Population.
SAN DIEGO HEADS THE LIST

Pacific Coast Average Exceeds Thai
Statistics Based on Tables of Sui
cides in 90 Cities-Most Popular
Method of SeIf-Murder Was by Fire
arms-Suicide More Common Among
Whites Than Negroes.
Suicide, essentially an evil of so
called civilization" increased in 1921
according to figures gathered by Fred
erick L. Hoffman, consulting statisti
can of the leading insurance com
panies, and published in the Specta-
tor, the insurance journal. The rate
jumped from 1874 for each 100000 of
population to 1877.
Suicide cases fill the newspapers
as a matter of routine and without
attracting the slightest serious atten-
tion," he wrote Suicides are ex-
pected as a matter of course, just as
years ago yellow fever reports from
the South were looked forward to with
apathy and indifference. Every day
cases occur which bear evidence of
SOundness or unSOundneSS OF mind
which, at least would seem to suggest
the value of medical concern with bor-
derland cases. Collectively, the amount
of life involved in these cases is as
Stunning considerable proportions, yet
no disease receives less attention than
this largely unnecessary affection Of
civilized mankind"
oh
lions on a table of suicides in 95 cities.
San Diego heads the list, as 1t has for
some time, with a rate of 48.7 per 1OO,-
900 of population, three times the nor
NAL rate for the cities combined San
Francisco has rate of 37.3, Spokane
1926, Los Angeles, 279, Oakland, Cal.
25.6, and Tacoma, Wash, PAP The
Pacific coast cities showed a rate of
2S.7, as compared with II for New
England cities, and 1871 for cities in
the Middle Atlantic states.
Pacific Coast Rate High.
mo qualified investigation has ever
been made into suicide phenomena on
the Pacific coast" he said. 1T is easy
to conjecture that the predisposing
condition is the large number of
stranded derelicts in that section; in
Aids and others who seek health or
wealth, but find their disappoint-
ment beyond their strength to endure.
But the subject is certainly one worthy
of more extended consideration on the
part of those who make a scientific
study of the social complex"
Doctor Hoffman said that he had
seen a claim that there was an eX-
traordinary increase in the suicide rate
in New York City, but found that in
the first six months of 1921 there had
been 430 deaths from suicide, and in
the first half of 1922 only 415, de
crease of 10 instead of an increase.
The most popular method of suicide
was by firearms, which claimed 1881,
or 40.8 per cent of the victims tabu-
lated by Doctor Hoffman. Hanging
was second with 17.S per cent, poison
claimed 1875 per cent asphyxia, Ill
per cent. cutting s.5. drowning 81,
jumping %. He also shows that sui
eide is more common among whites |
than among negroes, whereas there |
ire many more murders among ne
yroes than among whites.
Negro Percentage Low.
while suicide is met with among
Ill peoples, the most highly civilized
contribute the largest proportion Of
leaths from self-murder," he wrote.
lie refers to a table OF the Southern
tates, and adds:
This table shows that the average
uicide rate for the white population
a the Southern states was 7.6, while
or the colored population 1t was 1.0.
n contrast the average homicide rate
vas so for the whites but 20O8 for
he colored. In the case of Southern
7hite people, there were 70 hOmicides
0 every 10 suicides. The proportion
or colored people was 1905 homicides
0 every 100 suicides, reaching as high
figure as 27.36 In the case Of Miss
,sippi, where, likewise, the ratio for
ne white population was almost twice
ne normal for the Southern states, or
49, The variations In rates and ratios
mphasize the complex nature of the
licide and homicide problems, which
ake it rather hazardous to draw far
eaching conclusions from a single
ears experience. But in the present
,co tho dofo has haan combined for