SOCIAL DISINTEGRATION 287 



in. parts of tlie Continent of Europe it is no longer anything but 

 a reminiscence. The sentiment of patriotism, which has hitherto 

 withstood even the formidable storms of the French Revolution 

 of 1789 and the European Revolution of 1848, is now attacked ; 

 and it is fitting that this attack should have been begun in France, 

 the cradle of the ideas which have inspired the actual poUtical 

 regime of the whole European Continent, and which are now 

 being carried to their only possible conclusion — on the one hand 

 individualism in its extreme form, with its accompanying clash 

 of antagonistic interests and destruction of all those links of 

 soKdarity which, in the past, knit societies together ; on the 

 other hand, a positive and negative work of social disintegra- / 

 tion. Such is the present condition of society ; and this condi- 

 tion may be ascribed to the fact that society, in its haste to 

 develop its economic wealth, has neglected to bring about a 

 corresponding development of other factors, such as the senti- 

 ment of solidarity inspired by recognition of the importance to 

 the whole race of the eugenic progress of its members, which are 

 at least of equal importance in social evolution. 



To return briefly to the question. What influence do the 

 seasons exercise on conduct ? We think that the above remarks 

 will have afforded sujB&cient explanation of our position. Society 

 utilises the seasons, so to speak, as instruments for the furthering 

 of that social activity which is engendered by purely intra- 

 social causes. Thus the increase in the rates of suicide and 

 insanity, if it correspond in each case with a certain period of 

 the year, is nevertheless not determined by the thermal condi- 

 tions ; but it is brought about by the fact that the economic 

 activity of society, which is responsible for the phenomena of 

 suicide and insanity, in so far as they may be considered as 

 social phenomena, is greater during that particular period. 



