1835.] Suicides and Murders in Russia in 1821-22. 181 



Among women it never happens. Cutting the throat is not 

 common. At Moscow, in 1821, a stranger cut his throat 

 with a razor. There were only eleven cases in eight govern- 

 ments. Poisoning is very rare. At Moscow, in 1822, a 

 soldier was poisoned, and a female servant, by her lover. 

 At Yaroslav, in 1822, a young officer was poisoned ; in 1822 

 a peasant; and in Voronega, in 1821, a soldier suffered the 

 same fate. In six governments, only seven cases of pre- 

 meditated suicide occurred. In 1822 a student at Moscow 

 threw himself from a window, and in the same year, a 

 merchant of a melancholic temperament killed himself in 

 a similar manner. 



The causes which have occasioned the suicides are ex- 

 tremely interesting, as they throw some light upon the 

 analogous situation of persons of the same class ; but, in 

 general, they are unknown. A few, however, have been 

 ascertained. 



In Moscow a peasant hanged himself in a passion during 

 1821. In Kalouga, a peasant, overcome with melancholy, 

 strangled himself in 1822. A peasant at Riazan, in 1821, 

 afraid of being inlisted; in 1822 another, afraid of being 

 punished by his master, committed the same crime. Similar 

 acts were perpetrated by peasants in Kostroma, from low 

 spirits, in 1822; by another in Toula in 1821, in conse- 

 quence of being punished by his master ; and a third in 1821, 

 in Orel, afraid of punishment ; a fourth for having lost his 

 horse, which a peasant had taken from him for debt. 



In a population of 10 J millions one homicide occurs for 

 every 49,645£ inhabitants. Of this number 141 are men, 

 33 women, and 37s children : in the proportion of 



Men to women . . 



,, children . . 



Women ,, . . 



Both Sexes ,, 



For a mean of two years there 



among 



4* to 1 

 3* „ 1 



4J 



1} 



1 



are of assassinations 



