INHERITANCE OF TEMPERAMENT. 1 09 



Despite obvious difficulties in the situation, we find a natural loss of 

 the instinct of self-preservation under certain conditions where it may 

 be regarded as biologically fortunate and under others where it is less 

 clearly so. Weakening of the instinct of life is shown, first, as stated, 

 by many old persons, especially if infirm, and second, by persons in the 

 prime of life who suffer great physical pain, as sometimes in cancer. 

 In proportion to the number living, according to Prussian statistics, 

 the frequency of suicides is relatively great after 40 years of age, and 

 steadily increases to over 80 years. 



Two classes remain for consideration, and these include the vast 

 majority of suicides. Although there is a widespread view that sui- 

 cides occur chiefly, if not wholly, in a depressed state, such is not at all 

 the case ; and, indeed, we must recognize that hyperkinetic suicides are 

 quite as common as, if not more frequent than, the hypokinetic. We 

 may consider these two classes separately. 



2. SUICIDES IN HYPERKINETICS. 



As an example of this type I may take a case which I had an oppor- 

 tunity to interview at Kings Park State Hospital, Dr. W. A. Macy, 

 superintendent. The patient was introduced to me as showing the 

 Korssakow syndrome; he was a German of a hyperkinetic type; he spoke 

 brusquely and rapidly. He admitted that when he drank he threatened 

 his wife. On one occasion, in the basement of one of the hospital build- 

 ings, an associate taunted him with being in for life; he cried, "Better 

 dead!" and rushed head-on to the stone wall, but recovered from the 

 impact. He admitted no depression, nor had he planned the suicide in 

 the least degree. 



Another case of hyperkinetic suicide is quoted from the records of 

 the Eugenics Record Office. A man (13:314:111-34), born 1833, was 

 as a youth very studious and ambitious to specialize in languages in 

 order to teach them in college; his father, however, could not afford 

 this, but offered to advance him in the law; but the boy was stubborn, 

 and later entered the army toward the close of the war. In 1865, he 

 was admitted to a State hospital; was noisy and destructive, and 

 would not wear clothing. After 10 years he was transferred to another 

 hospital, where he had periods of excitement alternating with periods 

 of tranquillity. During the former he would roar like a bull, stating 

 that he was the "Asylum bull," was noisy, abusive, and obscene in 

 language. When quiet would spend most of his time in his room, 

 reading or writing; his language in the ward was most obscene. He 

 was inclined to be quarrelsome at times and always untidy in his 

 appearance; he refused to wear shoes or stockings. In 1884 he com- 

 plained of the consequences of masturbation. Had bizarre delusions 

 in 1886; suffered keenly from them and begged the physician to give 

 him poison to put him out of his misery; felt the authorities meant to 



