Sll< IDE AND THE WEATHER. 615 



tradietory to popular opinion with regard to the time chosen by the 

 suicide for the tinal act. 



The first is that suicide is excessive under those conditions of 

 weather which are generally considered most exhilarating and delightful 

 — that is, the later spring months and upon clear, dry days. Keference 

 to Figs. 1 and 2 proves this conclusively for the number of data and the 

 locality studied. It was also noted that there were the greatest numeri- 

 cal excesses for the most agreeable temperatures. Barometrical condi- 

 tions can hardly be referred to the categories agreeable and disagreeable, 

 but for humidity and wind the relation will hardly hold, since we have 

 the greatest excesses during high humidities and great wind velocities, 

 both of which are unpleasant. Yet these facts would not invalidate our 

 first statement, for neither high winds nor great humidities bring a 

 scowl upon the face of Nature that can be compared with that of a wet, 

 drizzling day. In fact, a day may be bright, and be both windy and 

 humid. Yet these latter conditions have effects peculiarly their own, as 

 shown conclusively by the study of deportment already cited. They 

 are, for wind, the production of a neurotic condition in which self-con- 

 trol is in a marked degree lessened, and for high humidities the produc- 

 tion of a minimum of vital energy. The former is shown especially in 

 the study of the school children, and the latter of the death rate. These 

 facts make it possible for us to amend our statement that suicides are 

 excessive during the most noticeably delightful conditions, by adding: 

 coupled with especially devitalizing ones. 



But this does not in any way account for the seemingly anomalous 

 effect of bright weather. To me the only plausible hypothesis is that 

 of contrast. Investigation has seemed to prove that very few suicides 

 are committed on the 'spur of the moment.' The act is generally pre- 

 meditated, and its consummation deferred, sometimes again and again. 

 We can hardly doubt, either, that it is dreaded, and the hope enter- 

 tained, even to the end, that it may not need to be. During the winter 

 months that hope must be centred on the belief that when Nature smiles 

 with the spring sunshine all will be well; on the gloomy day, when the 

 morrow comes with its exhilarating brightness, the present cloud of un- 

 happiness will be gone. The love of life is still strong, and the grave 

 can not be sought while there is still hope for better things. 



But spring comes with all its excess of life, and the morrow with 

 its brightness, but do not bring to the poor unfortunate, unable to re- 

 act to these forces as of yore, the hoped-for relief. He thinks of othpr 

 springs when the bluebirds sang happier songs, and of other sunshine 

 which had set his blood tingling. The drowning man had waited long 

 for the straw; it came and he clutched it, but it sank beneath his weight. 



