INFLUENCE OF SEASONS ON GENERAL CONDUCT 285 



perature is moderate and most favourable to activity of all kinds. 

 This a priori hypothesis we find to be verified a posteriori. The 

 economic activity of society is greatest during the second period 

 of the year, and it is precisely during this period that we find 

 recorded the greatest number of cases of suicide, of insanity in 

 general, of alcoholic insanity, and of general paralysis. We are 

 justified, therefore, in seeing a direct connection, a direct rela- 

 tion of cause and effect, between the economic activity of society 

 and the increase of suicide and insanity — an increase which 

 breaks off just at the moment when the economic activity of 

 society relaxes somewhat in July; and which continues its 

 decrease until the New Year, when social activity begins to show 

 more vigour. 



And this result of modern social evolution will surprise no 

 one, or ought to surprise no one, when we reflect on the condi- 

 tions of social life to-day — that there is, on the one hand, a 

 hyperactive movement of social metabolism, and on the other 

 growing social disintegration. On the hyperactive nature of the 

 social metabolism it is needless to insist. Every one is aware of 

 what the conditions of social life are, of the Hasten,, Drdngen und 

 Jagen which characterise the present phase of social evolution 

 in all industrial countries. And the accompanying social dis- 

 integration — is this a fact ? We would reply that a priori it 

 would be astonishing if disintegration were not at work. At 

 one end of the social scale we have idleness and parasitism ; at 

 the other misery and overstrain. In order to have a society well 

 integrated we require to have a society which is worth living for. 

 To-day the parasitic classes cannot possibly find society worth 

 living for ; they cannot possibly have an interest in its eugenic 

 — ^that is to say, its highest — welfare ; for how can anything be 

 worth Hving for if it be not worth working for ? And the 

 working classes ? The conditions of life imposed upon them by 

 the development of industrialism and modern economic condi- 

 tions are not such as to render them enthusiastic for the main- 



