Suicides, 



353 



for legislative interference in France; but it is not the less a matter of 

 deep interest to the moralist and the statesman, to be furnished with ac- 

 curate details relative to this species of moral malady; — a malady so fatal, 

 as to snatch from their families and country almost 2000 individuals every 

 year, the greater part of whom are in the flower of their age. 



It is a duty seriously incumbent on the superior government, to collect 

 the facts, and publish periodical statements on this subject. By tlie official 

 returns, the number of suicides throughout France in the four years 1827- 

 1830 amounted to 6900, or nearly ISOO annually ; but M. G. considers it 

 out of doubt that the suicides actually committed are nearly double this 

 number. But, taking even the lowest estimate, which is at least treble 

 the number of murders committed in a like period, it would appear that 

 when a death occurs in France from violence, (excludjng accidents and in- 

 voluntary homicides) the probability is as 3 to 1 that the victim has fallen 

 by his own hand, rather than by the hand of another. 



The geographical distribution of suicides is not less regular than that of 

 other crimes, both against person and property ; as is shewn by the fol- 

 lowing table. 



No. 8. Suicides. 



It will be seen from this table that during these four years, the annual 

 proportion of suicides in either region has not varied more than 3-100 

 from the mean. In the centre, the variation has not exceeded l-IOO; and 

 in the west the proportion for each of the fourteen years is uniform. 



The difierent regions do not stand quite in the same order, as to their 

 proportions of suicides absolutely taken, as when these are compared with 

 their respective population ; but in cither case, the northern departments 

 are sadly distinguished by an excessive number. Next follows the east, 

 then the centre, south, and west. In the two latter regions, suicides are 

 in general thrice as rare as in the north. 



The disproportion among the departments individually, is still more 

 striking. Thus, in that of the Seine, the suicides are as 1 to 3500 inha- 

 bitants ; in the Higher Pyrenees, only as 1 to 220,000. Between these 



