12 THE MENDEL JOURNAL 



which they live that death by means of self-shooting 

 belonged primarily to the B family, and death by 

 self-drowning to the A family. The two families 

 have intermarried, and among their descendants 

 three forms of suicide are manifested, namely, the 

 two original forms, by shooting and drowning, and 

 a new form, by taking poison. 



Before the present history commences, according 

 to tradition, the two families were unrelated. 



One peculiar and singularly significant feature 

 of the case is the very characteristic mode of drowning 

 adopted by the victims of the suicidal mania. It 

 seemingly indicates that the manifestation of the 

 mania is not a matter of opportunity or suggestion, 

 but is an inherent impulse, which all external influ- 

 ences are powerless to check or destroy. It is indi- 

 cative of an innate determination so pronounced that 

 it would call forth our admiration were it manifested 

 in nobler ways. The victims proceed to drown 

 themselves by lying down, and then forcing their 

 faces into a pool of water only a few inches in depth 

 until death results. 



Plate I. — " A Pedigree of Suicidal Mania." 



CM. = Cousin marriage. 



D. = Suicide by drowning. 



I. = Ha.s been temporarily placed in asylum. 



L. = Still living in year 1907. 



P. = Suicide by taking poison. 



S. — ,, .• shooting. 



P. = Parental generation. 



Fj., P., Pj., P.,., and P.,., = The different generations. 

 The black symbols indicate those members who have manifested 

 suicidal mania or whose behaviour has caused their friends anxiety. 

 The ringed symbols indicate the normal persons. 

 The ringed symbols marked with a transverse line represent 

 unknown persons. 



The numbers are merely for descriptive purposes. 



