CHAPTER XXII.

SUICIDE OF ANIMALS.

The question “to what extent does the mind of one of the lower animals resemble that of man,” has been argued by many able men, but no very definite decision has been arrived at. The point is of prime importance in a consideration of whether animals can commit suicide; I mean “can animals kill themselves intentionally, either as the result of consideration and choice, or of impulse?”

No one doubts that animals may die from some voluntary action of their own; for example, a dog may die of eating poisoned food, or a horse may die from a blow caused by jumping over a space with insufficient caution and observation, or a monkey may cut his throat by imitating a man shaving; similar deaths would not be called suicide in man. The tendency of the present day is rather in favour of granting to the lower beings of creation a larger share of intelligence than used to be assigned to them. Not many years ago it was almost universally granted that animals had no soul, and no future life, and only a limited instinct in this life; no reasoning powers, and no foreknowledge of approaching death; all these points have of late years been declared to be uncertain.

If we deny to animals powers of reflection and knowledge of a necessary death, it is not possible to assent to the statement that an animal can in its own mind decide to end its life at any certain time.

Some animals, certainly, protest against entering a yard where others have been slaughtered, as if the smell of blood suggested their fate to them, but what we understand as instinct suffices to explain this terror. Birds of prey are known to detect by sight or smell when an animal is about to die; this again is the instinct provided to supply them with food.

If it be true that a scorpion will sting itself to death when irritated beyond measure, I should be inclined to think that it perishes in its efforts to sting its enemies; or if not, I should imagine that the action resembles that of a man tearing his hair from anger, when he cannot injure his opponent. And the same ideas will apply to the case of the bee, which is similarly said to kill itself in wounding its enemy.

Wild birds will refuse food and die, if confined in a cage; and the survivor of a pair of tame birds, after the death of his mate, is often noticed to refuse food and rapidly die of exhaustion; but I should explain such cases by saying that the loss had made so intense an impression on the creature’s consciousness as to supersede the impulse to feed itself.

I myself remember seeing a healthy little dog refuse food, pine away and die, when its young mistress, who had for months hourly petted it, became a mother, and the dog became neglected; its death was from neglect of a voluntary action, but was it volitional?

Regnault, Elias, in his work on Mental Alienation, decides against the possibility of the lower animals ever effecting a voluntary death; he says, “Suicide is the most energetic assertion of man’s superiority; why do not animals conceive and execute it? Because their nature is entirely passive; to them the choice of life or death is not given; man, on the contrary, eminently free and active, is able to extend his energy even as far as self-destruction.”

Narratives of the deaths of animals, especially when these have been pets, are apt to be very unreliable, from the infusion of sentiment, and many of the anecdotes of suicide of animals which I have investigated have a semi-mythical character. The stories to which I give references would close the controversy as to whether animals ever do, or do not commit suicide, _i. e._, kill themselves with the intention of ending their lives, and not accidentally nor inadvertently, if they could be relied on to possess anything like scientific accuracy. Most of them have been published in newspapers, &c., where errors would be liable to suffer correction.

Aristotle narrates that a horse having been induced to have connection with his own dam, by the artifice of veiling her, for he had refused to do so previously, on seeing what he had done, jumped intentionally from a cliff, and was killed by the fall. See History of Animals, lib. ix., cap. 47.

But Professor Axe, of the Royal Veterinary College, tells me that he has never heard of _such_ a refusal on the part of a horse, neither has he ever observed any instance which seemed to him to point to the intentional self-destruction of any animal.

There is an old story mentioned in Boswell’s Life of Johnson, that a scorpion if irritated by placing it within a ring of burning coals, will thrust its own sting into itself, and so commit suicide; Dr. Johnson doubted it, and remarked that Maupertuis did not credit it.

Bory de St. Vincent, in the classic “Dictionnaire d’Histoire Naturelle,” vol. 15, says he has tried the experiment, and the scorpions simply became suffocated.

There is reference to the suicide of scorpions in Nature, Vol. xi., p. 29, which speaks of irritating a scorpion by means of a burning glass, with the same result. In the next week’s number, p. 47, is another mention of a similar observation. At Vol. xx., p. 553, a writer denies the possibility of a scorpion striking itself, whilst at p. 577, Prof. Allen Thompson details hearsay instances of scorpions forcibly piercing their own heads by their recurved stings, when annoyed by a bright light.

Youatt, Wm., V. S., tells the story of an artillery horse which refused food, and died from starvation, after the death of another horse, with which he had long worked. See “The Horse.”

Dr. W. L. Lindsay is a copious writer on this subject. He fully believes in animal suicide, and speaks of old age, wounded feelings, pain, desperation, continued ill usage, captivity, and self-sacrifice as causes; and states that he has notes of instances occurring in the dog, horse, mule, camel, llama, ass, monkey, seal and deer; stork, cock, jackdaw and duck; spider and scorpion; he narrates also some of the cases for which I have given references. See “Mind in the Lower Animals.”

He gives also many very interesting examples of accidental self-destruction, such as the strangling of horses by their halters, when endeavouring to escape from a stable; that monkeys have cut their throats from imitating a man shaving; and that mice have been poisoned by eating greenbacks.

Some sorts of fish, as salmon, have been noticed to throw themselves out of the water, but it seems very doubtful whether this act is meant to be suicidal.

Voluntary deaths of animals during panic and terror, and from fascination, seem to intervene between accidental suicides, and suicides which appear to be the result of choice; such deaths are caused by the headlong flight of sheep when worried by a dog, or are caused by fires on the prairies; or by fascination, as seen in the case of moths in a candle flame.

Other instances of apparent suicide may be consulted, viz.:─

Suicide of,─

Dogs, by a railway train, see Freeman’s Journal, Dublin, 1878.

Some fowls, by drowning. Sir S. Baker. The Albert Nyanza. 1876.

Deer in America. Dr. Pierquin. Traité de la folie. 1839.

Storks in conflagrations. Houzeau, J. C. Etudes sur les facultés mentales des animaux. 1872.

Pike, from pain. Watson, J. S. The Reasoning Power of Animals. 1870.

Dog, from the pain of a seton. Wynter.

Spider. Gillies, R. On the Habits of Spiders. 1876.

Dog, by drowning. Shrewsbury Chronicle. Oct. 25, 1878.

Cat, by drowning. Notes and Queries. Oct. 19, 1878.

Dog, by drowning. Notes and Queries. June, 25, 1884.

Horse by drowning. The Veterinarian. Aug. 1864.

Cat, by drowning. Stamford Mercury. Aug. 16, 1878.

Horse, by drowning, at Alloa. July 1876.

Elk. Sir S. Baker. Eight years in Ceylon. 1874.

Dog, from madness. Dr. Macdonald. Times. Oct. 1874.

Dog, from pain of a wound. Dundee Advertiser. 1874.

„ „ old age. Northern Ensign. July 20, 1870.

„ „ „ Norris (Lindsay.)

„ „ old age and pain. Morris. (Lindsay.)

„ „ broken legs, North British Daily Mail. 1876.

Monkey. Forbes. (Lindsay.)

Canvas-back Duck. Gillmore, P., Prairie and Forest. 1874.

APPENDIX.

THE ATTITUDE OF ASSURANCE COMPANIES TO THE SUICIDE.

To obtain this information application was made to each of the offices mentioned, for a prospectus which should include the regulations with respect to forfeiture of policies. I find by analysis that there are seven varieties in the proceedings of the companies, and in all of them assigned policies are indisputable.

A.─Policy is void by suicide:─Crown, Hand-in-Hand, Law, Rock, Provident, and Royal Exchange.

Of these, however─

Hand-in-Hand _may_ return premiums and interest.

Law _may_ pay a sum of money if the directors think fit.

Provident _may_ pay a surrender value.

Crown _may_ make a reasonable allowance unless the suicide be felo-de-se.

B.─Policy is not void after five years’ existence:─Atlas, Gresham, Mutual (if assured be 30 years old), Prudential, Whittington, Sun.

C.─Policy is not void after three years’ existence:─Alliance, British Empire, Norwich Union, Pelican.

D.─Policy is not void after two years:─Star, Commercial Union.

E.─Policy is not void after 13 months:─Guardian; London Assurance Company.

F.─Policy is not void after one year:─Clerical, Medical, and General; Legal and General; Liverpool, London, and Globe.

G.─No mention is made of suicide in the prospectuses of the following companies:─Equitable; London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow; Economic; New York; Northern; Royal; Scottish Amicable; Union; West of England.

The Union, and West of England, have a clause that “No claim is disputed unless there is palpable fraud.”

Of these thirty-two companies only one makes a distinction between suicide of the insane, and felo-de-se, viz., the Crown.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Agabeg and Harris. Principles of the Criminal Law, 3rd ed. 1884.

American Journal of Medical Science. 1878. See Palmer, O. H., and Gray, J. P.

Anti-hegesias. A French Poem on Suicide, critical and historical. 1763.

Baer, A. Der Alcoolismus. 1878.

Bareuc. Reflexions sur le Suicide. 1789.

Beccaria, Bonesana C. On Crimes and Punishments, an essay. 1777.

Beck, John B. Elements of Medical Jurisprudence. 1842.

Bentham, Jeremy. Principles of Penal Law. 1843.

Bertrand, Louis. Traité du Suicide. 1857.

Block, Georg. Vom Selbstmord. 1792.

Bonomi. Del Suicidio in Italia. 1878.

Bourdin, Dr. C. E. Du Suicide. 1845.

Briand, J., and Chaudé, E. Manuel complet de Médecine Légale. 1880.

Brierre de Boismont, Alexander. Du Suicide. 1856.

British Medical Journal.

Brouc. Considerations sur le Suicide de notre epoque. 1836.

Bucknill and Tuke. A Manual of Psychological Medicine. 4th ed. 1879.

Buckle, H. T. History of Civilization in England. 1869.

Bunyon, C. T. A Treatise on Life Assurance. 18.

Buonafede, Appiano. Histoire de Suicide. 1762 and 1843.

Burdach. Traité de Physiologie. 1841.

Burrows, G. M. Commentaries on Insanity. 1828.

Camp, Maxime du. Memoires d’un Suicide. 1855.

Caro, E. Le Suicide dans ses rapports avec le civilisation. 1856.

Carpenter, W. B. Principles of Mental Physiology. 4th ed. 1876.

Casper, J. L. Forensic Medicine, translated from the German by J. W. Balfour. 1861-5.

Cazauvieilh, J. B. Du Suicide. 1840.

Chevers, Norman. The Medical Jurisprudence of India. 1870.

Chevrey, J. Etude Médicale sur le Suicide. 1816.

Chitty, Joseph, the Elder. Medical Jurisprudence. 1834.

Connoisseur, The. No. 50. 1755.

Dabadie, F. Les Suicides Illustres. Vol. I. 1859.

David. Note sur le Suicide en Danemark. 1860.

Debreyne, M. Du Suicide. 1847.

Descuret, J. B. F. La Médecine des Passions. 1841.

Despine, Prosper. Psychologie Naturelle. 1868.

Dictionnaire des Sciences Médicales. Art. Suicide, by Esquirol.

Douay, Edmond. Le Suicide. 1870.

Dumas, Jean. Traité du Suicide. 1773.

Ebrard, N. Du Suicide. 1871.

Elam, Ch. A Physician’s Problems.

Espine, Marc de. Essai analytique de Statistique Mortuaire Comparée. 1858.

Esquirol, E. Maladies Mentales, 1838, and Article S. in Dict. des Sciences Médicales.

Etangs, Des. Du Suicide Politique. 1860.

Falret, J. P. De l’hypochondrie et du Suicide. 1822.

Farr, A. Reports of Registration of Deaths.

Foderé, F. E. Traité de Médicine Légale. 1813.

Formey, J. H. S. Mélanges philosophiques. Berlin, 1754.

Franklin, R. V. De la Philosophie et de la Morale du Suicide. 1835.

Gentleman’s Magazine. Vol. xxv. 1755.

Girardin, St. Marc de. Du Suicide et de la Haine de la Vie. 1843.

Goethe, J. W. Von. The Sorrows of Werter. 1774.

Gru, Eugène. Les Morts Violents. 1864.

Hecker. De Autokeiria Martyrum. 1720.

Holbach, Paul de. Le Système de la Nature. 1770.

Indian Medical Gazette.

Jaccoud. Nouveau Dictionnaire de Médecine. Art. Suicide. 1883.

Jervis, Sir John. Office and Duties of Coroners, by Melsheimer, R.E. 1880.

Josephus, Flavius, Works of.

Jousset, P. G. Du Suicide, 1858, and Sur le Rage, 1868.

Kayser. La Statistique Officielle du Suicide en Norvege. 1852.

Lancet, The.

Laverdy. Code Penal.

Lecky, W. E. H. History of European Morals.

Legoyt, A. Le Suicide. 1881.

Leibnitz, C. W. Von. Du Suicide. 1865.

Leroy, Dr. Etudes sur le Suicide. 1870.

Lisle, E. Du Suicide. 1856.

Lunacy Commissioners, Returns of the.

Luys, J. Des Maladies Hereditaires. 1863.

Marc, C. C. H. De la Folie. 1840.

Maudsley, Henry. Insanity and Crime, 1864, and Body and Mind, 1873.

Medical Critic. 1861, 1862.

Medical Times and Gazette.

Mental Science Asylum, Journal of.

Merian, De. Discours sur la crainte de la Mort, et sur le Suicide. 1763.

Mesnier, L. J. E. Du Suicide dans l’Armée. 1881.

Millar, W, H. Suicide in the Army. See Journal of the Statistical Society. 1874.

Montaigne, Michel de, Essays of. 1580.

Moore, C. A Full Enquiry into Suicide. 1790.

Morselli, Enrico. Il Suicidio. Milan, 1879, and Suicide, an abridged translation, London, 1881.

Montesquieu, C. de S. Lettres Persanes. Nos. 74 and 76.

Nizamut Adawlut. Reports of Criminal Cases in India.

Oettingen. Ueber Acuten und Chronischen Selbstmord. 1881.

Ogston, Francis. Lectures on Medical Jurisprudence. 1878.

Osiander. Ueber den Selbstmord, 1813.

Paley, W. Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy. 1785.

Parent Du Chatélet. Hygiène Publique, 1836, and De la Prostitution, 1857.

Paris and Fonblanque. Medical Jurisprudence. 1823.

Plutarch. Life of Alexander the Great.

Pope, H. M. Law and Practice of Lunacy. 1877.

Prévost. Notes sur le Suicide dans le Canton de Genève. 1836.

Psychological Medicine, Journal of, 1859, 1878, 1879, 1882.

Quetelet, L. A. J. De l’homme, 1835, and Essai de Statistique Morale, 1866.

Radcliffe, J. N. Suicide Fields.

Ravizza, C. Il Suicidio. Milan. 1878.

Ray, Isaac. Medical Jurisprudence and Insanity. 1839.

Registrar General, Reports of. Annual.

Regnault, Elias. Nouvelles Reflexions sur le Suicide. 1830.

Rousseau, J. J. La Nouvelle Heloise. Letters xxi. and xxii. Part iii.

Salomon, Bromberg. Welche sind die Ursachen der in neuester Zeit so sehr überhand nehmenden Selbstmorden. 1861.

Sleeman, W. H. Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official. 1884.

Smith’s Annals of Indian Administration.

Social Science Review. 1862 _et seq._

Stael, Mme. de. Influence des Passions, 1817. Reflexions sur le Suicide, 1820.

Staeudlin, C. F. Geschichte der Vorstellungen und Lehren vom Selbstmorde. 1824.

Statistical Society, Journal of.

Stephen, Sir J. F. A Digest of the Criminal Law, 1877, and a History of the Criminal Law of England. 1883.

Suicide, an Elegy. 1775.

Suicide, its Guilt and Punishment, in S. P. C. K. series. 1836.

Suicide, on. Rel. Tract Soc. 1830.

Szafkowski, L. F. De la Mort volontaire. 1840.

Tardieu, A. A. Etude Médico-Legale. 1870.

Taylor, A. S. Medical Jurisprudence; edited by Stevenson. 1883.

Tissot, J. La Manie du Suicide. 1840.

Tissot, J. Le Droit Penal. 1860.

Tissot, S. A. Onanisme. 5th ed. 1781.

Trousseau, A. Clinical Medicine. 1867-71, transl. by the New Sydenham Soc.

Voltaire. F. M. Arouet de. Dictionnaire Philosophique. 1765.

Wagner, Adolph. Die Gesetzmässigkeit in den scheinbar willkürlichen menschlichen Handlungen vom Standpunkte der Statistik. 1864.

Wharton, Francis. Mental Unsoundness. 1855.

Wharton and Stillé. Medical Jurisprudence. 1873.

Winslow, Forbes. The Anatomy of Suicide. 1840.

World, The, No. 193. Sept. 1756.

INDEX.

Abercrombie on Suicide, 124.

Advanced Views on Suicide, 5.

Afghan Surgeon, Suicide of an, 121.

Age, Effect of, 109.

Alcohol, Abuse of, 136, 156, 170.

Animals, Suicide of, 174.

Anomalies of Law, 160.

Aphelion, 69.

Archway at Highgate, 131.

Aristotle on Suicide, 9, 91, 176.

Army, Suicide in the, 98.

Assurance Companies, 180.

Asylums, Foreign, 127.

Asylums, Use of, 168.

Athens, Ancient, 9.

Attempted Suicide, 156.

Attitude of Assurance Companies, 180.

Austria, Suicide in, 61, 62, 96, 99, 146.

Austrian Suicide Law, 50.

Axe, Professor, on Suicide, 176.

Bailey, Nathan, on Origin of the Name Suicide, 31.

Balzac on Suicide, 41.

Beccaria on Suicide, 42.

Belgium, Suicide in, 60, 62.

Bentham on Suicide, 47.

Berenice, Suicide of, 16.

Berlin, Suicide Rate in, 95.

Bible, Suicides of the, 17.

Bibliographical Index, 182.

Blandford on Suicide, 120.

Bleeding, Use of, 169.

Blindness, Effect of, 135.

Bodily Disease, 135.

Bodio, Formula of, 61.

Borrodaile _v._ Hunter, 53.

Brahmins, Suicide among, 11, 161.

Brierre de Boismont, 83, 106, 111, 173.

Broussais on Causes of Suicide, 66.

Buckmill and Tuke on Suicide, 121, 123.

Burial of a Suicide, 45.

Burrows _v._ Burrows, 56.

Calanus, 11.

Calcutta, Suicide Rate of, 162.

Carbonic Acid Gas, 146.

Cato, 22, 38.

Causation, 65.

Causes, Tables of, 70, 72, 73, 74.

Celibacy, 112, 155.

Ceos, 7.

Chambers _v._ Queen’s Proctor, 57.

Charcoal Stoves, 147.

Chatterton, Suicide of, 132.

Childhood, 111.

Children, Effect of having, 114.

China, Suicide in, 13.

Christian Church, 3, 14.

Chrysostom, St., 16.

Cities, 93, 94.

Classical Authors, 30.

„ Suicides, 18.

Climate, 78.

Cloister, Use of the, 173.

Coal Gas, Suicide by, 153.

Colton on Suicide, 37.

Commerce, 96.

Confessional, 173.

Convict Life, 100.

Coroner, Warrant of, 45.

Councils of the Church, 14.

Crime, 90, 154.

Crucifixion, 152.

Curious means of Suicide, 153.

Cut-throat, 146.

Dabadie on Suicide, 121.

Deafness, 135.

Decrease of Crime, 155.

Dementia, 124, 126.

Denmark, Suicide Rate in, 60, 62, 89.

Desfontaines, 31, 39.

Despine on the Causes of Suicide, 67.

Development of Mind, 156.

Drowning, 145.

Drunkenness, 137.

Ecclesiastical Law, 15.

Education increases Suicide Rate, 81, 112, 156.

Education decreases Crime, 155.

Egypt, Suicide in, 13.

Elam on Suicide, 92, 133.

Emigration, 76, 152.

Employment, 95.

England, Suicide in,

„ Army of, 98.

„ Navy of, 99.

„ Prisons of, 100.

Epicureans, 3, 10.

Epilepsy, 119, 171.

Epidemic Suicide, 129.

Etna, Mount, 133.

Europe, Suicide in, 151.

Failed, Suicide, 156.

Falls, Suicide by, 134, 146.

Family Life, 89, 126.

Fascination, 134.

„ in Animals, 178.

Felo-de-se, 43, 160.

Female Suicide, 105, 108, 109, 110.

Fire Arms, 145.

Fleming, R., on Suicide, 34.

Forfeitures by Suicide, 45, 46.

Forms of Lunacy, 123.

Found Drowned, 59.

France, Laws in, 16, 50.

„ Suicide in, 61, 62, 63, 83, 115, 151.

Gas, Suicide by, 146, 153.

German Law on Suicide, 49.

Germany, Suicide Rates in, 60, 62, 87, 114, 125, 152.

Gibbon on Suicide, 47.

Goethe on Suicide, 41.

Greece, Ancient, 7.

Greek terms for Suicide, 32.

Hamlet, 33.

Hanging, 145.

Hegesias, 129.

Heredity, 138.

Hindoos, 11.

History of Suicide, 7.

Holland, Suicide in, 60, 61.

Horn _v._ Assurance Company, 55.

Horse, Suicide of, 176.

Hours of the Day, 106.

Hume, David, 3, 36.

Hysteria, 109.

Iago on Suicide, 33.

Imbecility, 124, 125.

Imitation, 131.

Increase of Suicide, 58, 60, 62.

India, Suicide in, 161.

Insanity, 116-128.

„ not proved by Suicide, 47, 48, 56, 160.

Insomnia, 136.

Ireland, Suicide in, 150.

Italy, Suicide in, 60, 62, 110, 113, 151.

„ Prisons of, 101.

Japan, Suicide in, 13.

Jews, Suicide among the, 2, 11, 85.

„ very liable to lunacy, 86.

Johnson, Dr., on Suicide, 36.

„ on Suicide of Scorpions, 177.

Jurisprudence, Civil, 51.

„ Criminal, 43.

Koor in India, 162.

Latin terms for Suicide, 31.

Laws on Suicide, 43.

„ Foreign, on Suicide, 49.

„ Indian, on Suicide, 161.

Lea River, Corpses in the, 60.

Legoyt on Suicide, 42.

Lindsay on Animal Suicide, 177.

Lisle on Suicide causes, 73.

Literature of Suicide, 29.

London, Rate of Suicide in, 94.

„ means of Suicide in, 149.

Louis IX., 15.

„ XIV., 16.

Love Affairs, 142.

Lunacy, 116-128.

Lunatics, Suicide of, 44, 123.

Lyons, Epidemic at, 130.

MacAdam _v._ Walker, 56.

Madness, Amount of, 125.

Mania, 123, 125, 126.

Marriage, 112, 114.

„ Second, 115.

Marseilles, 130.

Marshes, 79.

Martyrdom, 2.

Maupertius, 39.

Means of Cure, 171.

Means of Suicide, 144.

„ „ in India, 165.

Medical Men, Suicide of, 143.

Melancholia, 123, 124, 126.

Mental Diseases,

Metempsychosis, 2.

Mexico, 13.

Middle Ages, Suicides of the, 24.

Miletus, Suicide in, 129.

Military Life, 98.

Modern Suicides, 24.

Mohammedans, Suicide among, 12, 161.

Monday, 105.

Monomania, 123, 125, 126.

Moon, Effect of the, 102, 104.

Montaigne, 10, 38.

Monument, The, 131, 133.

Morality, 89.

Morselli on Suicide, 29, 42, 69, 87, 100, 104.

Moses, 2.

Mountains, 79.

Navy, 98, 151.

Negroes, 14, 76.

New York, Suicide in, 95, 152.

Norway, Suicide in, 60, 62, 87.

Notable Suicides, 17.

Novels, Famous, 92.

Nuns, 95.

Occupation, 95.

Odin, 14.

Old Age, 110.

Origin of the Name Suicide, 31.

Othello, 33.

Over-pressure, 112.

Pain, Suicide from, 135, 164.

Paine, Tom, on Suicide, 37.

Paris, Suicide in, 132.

Pellagra, 130.

Perihelion, 69.

Persia, 12.

Peru, 13.

Pessimism, 132.

Philosophy encourages Suicide, 3.

Poison, 146, 148

Police, The, 155, 159.

Policies voided by Suicide, 180.

Portugal, Suicide in, 60, 87.

Post Mortem appearances, 122.

Predisposition, Hereditary, 138.

Present Rates of Suicide, 58.

Prevention, 166.

Prison Life, 100.

Prostitutes, 90.

Protestantism, 85, 87.

Protestants, Morselli’s Table of Suicide by, 87.

Puerperal Suicide, 170.

Quetelet on Crime, 154.

R. _v._ Alison, 43.

R. _v._ Dyson, 43, 48.

R. _v._ Fisher, 48.

R. _v._ Gathercole, 48.

R. _v._ May, 48.

Race, Effects of, 75.

Railways, 96.

Rare Means, 153.

Regent’s Canal, 59.

Religion, 85, 172.

Revenge, 162.

Revivalism, 88.

Ritualism, 88.

Rome, Ancient, Suicide in, 9.

„ „ Suicide Law in, 10.

Roman Catholics, Suicide Rates of, 85.

Rousseau, 3, 40.

Rural Life, 93.

Russia, Suicide in, 145.

Saints, Suicide of, 16.

Salvation Army, 88.

Sati, 163.

Savages, 156.

Scandinavia, 14.

School Tasks, 112.

Schopenhauer, 132.

Schwabe _v._ Clift, 53.

Scorpions, Suicide of, 176.

Scotland, Suicide in, 149, 150.

Seasons, Effect of the, 102, 154.

Sex, 107, 152.

Shakespeare, 33.

Sleep, Value of, 172.

Sleeplessness, 136, 172.

Spain, Suicide in, 60, 87, 107.

Specific Rates of Suicide, 75.

Spiritualism, 140.

Spite, 142.

Stael, Madame de, 2, 40.

Starvation, Suicide by, 152.

Stephen, Sir J., on Suicide, 48.

Stoics, the, 3, 10, 132.

Stone in the Bladder, 10.

Stoves, 147.

Sun, Effects of the, 102.

Suffocation as a means, 146.

Surgeons, Suicide of, 143.

Sunday, 105.

Sweden. Suicide in, 60, 62, 87, 111.

Tædium Vitæ, 141.

Taine on Suicide, 41.

Tall Races, 77.

Tarantulism, 130.

Temporary Insanity, 44, 46.

Tendency, Morning, to Suicide, 170.

Thames, Corpses in the, 59.

Thomas, Dr. Danford, on Suicide from Spite, 142.

Thebes, 9.

Throat-cut, 146.

Timon of Athens, 8.

Tissot on Suicide, 49, 66.

Town Life, 93.

Trades, 95.

Trousseau on Epilepsy, 119.

Tuke and Bucknill, 121, 123.

Urban Life, 93.

Utopia of More, 32.

Valhalla, 14.

Vertigo, Epileptic, 119.

Vesuvius, Mount, 133.

Vindictiveness, 142.

Virginity, 113.

Void Policies, 180.

Voltaire, 3, 39.

Warrant of a Coroner, 45.

Wars, 96, 113.

Waterloo, Battle of, 133.

Werter, Sorrows of, 41.

White _v._ Brit. Emp. Co., 55.

Widowhood, 112.

Winslow, F., on Suicide, 29.

Women choose Sunday for Suicide, 105.

Youth, 110.

Zeno, 3, 10.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

LONDON: Printed by Henry Hansard and Son, near Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

* * * * * *

Transcriber’s note:

Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.

Variations in hyphenation and accents have been standardised but all other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged.