244 



G. H. KNIBBS. 



This comparison discloses the great diversity of frequency 

 in the several countries indicated by each sex in resorting 

 to particular modes of self-destruction. The results are 

 equally diversified when the total number of suicides is con- 

 sidered (irrespective of sex). These total results may be 

 compared with those of a number of other countries for 

 several forms of suicide, viz. by hanging, drowning, shoot- 

 ing, and cutting. The following table furnishes the relative 

 numbers : — 



Relative number out of a total of 2,000 Suicides dying by hanging, 

 drowning, shooting, or cutting; various countries. 



Country. 



Period. 





Mode of 



Suicide. 

















Hanging. 



Drowning. 



Shooting. 



Cutting. 



Australia 



1907- 1910 



165 



104 



289 



151 



Austria 



1887-1891 



444 



259 



173 



? 



Bavaria 



1887 - 1890 



536 



203 



208 



? 



Belgium 



1889 - 1893 



492 



249 



155 



19 



Denmark ... 



1896 - 1900 



749 



130 



54 



13 



England 



1889 - 1893 



277 



227 



93 



182 



France 



1887 - 1891 



435 



260 



125 



24 



Italy 



1889 - 1893 



167 



232 



254 



41 



Norway 



1888-1890 



656 



172 



78 



47 



Prussia 



1891-1900 



586 



184 



129 



23 



Saxony 



1891-1900 



598 



196 



117 



20 



Sweden 



1889 - 1893 



495 



154 



140 



56 



Wurtteniberg 



1890-1899 



589 



158 



152 



27 



It is remarkable in cases of suicide that what would 

 a priori seem to be negligible factors should really have 

 weight. If for example, we take the cases of suicide by 

 drowning in the years 1907 to 1910 inclusive, we find that 

 in the warmer months November to April inclusive, the 

 suicides were 4*61 per month per annum, while from May 

 to September, they were only 3*75 per month per annum, 

 i.e., 18*7</o less frequent. The total suicides for the colder 

 months are only 10*7°/ o less frequent, hence the cold acts as 

 a deterrent in respect to this particular mode of suicide to 

 the extent of about 8f. 



