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INFLUENCE OF STRONG IMPRESSIONS.

may for a short time, be much less unreasonable than usual, thereby leading us to form a too favorable opinion of his mental condition. We We may also remark, that the ideas of a monomaniac, being as it were, concentrated on one subject, a force of reasoning on that subject, may be produced, superior to what, under ordinary circumstances, he appears to possess.

CHAPTER XI.

SUICIDE.

IN prosecution of the detail of the principal phenomena, observed in Mental Derangement, I shall make some observations on suicide, the propensity to which, is frequently met with in the form of partial insanity just mentioned, in the last chapter, and occurs occasionally in some of the other varieties, as well as in the incipient stage of insanity.

Suicide cannot be regarded as constituting any peculiar disease; but is rather an act which may result from a variety of different states of the mind; for we find that love of country, dread of slavery, fidelity to an oath, a desire to go more speedily to heaven, or fear of future

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SUICIDE, NOT NECESSARILY

punishment, have all led to the same catastrophe. Neither is it peculiar to sex, age, or country; men and women, old and young, rich and poor, the brave and the cowardly, have each and all committed it.

Religion, laws, manners, and customs, have modified the frequency, as well as the motives, which have led to the commission of the crime. Some philosophers, as the Stoics, have recommended it, others have reprobated the practice. But by all the modern systems of legislature, suicide is condemned; although the laws which relate to it, are seldom anywhere rigidly enforced.

In the time of the Roman Emperors, numbers of the principal men who were threatened with proscription, put themselves to death in order to avoid this fate. During the horrors of the French Revolution, the same thing happened,-thus, instances were known of fathers putting an end to their own lives, to avoid the guillotine, and to preserve their property from confiscation.

In the East Indies, many individuals terminate their own existence, in conformity to ancient customthus, widows are voluntarily burnt on their deceased husbands' pile. Some of the lowest class of natives, in the province of Berar, vow suicide, in return for boons solicited from their idols; and in fulfilment of this vow, the devotees fling themselves from a lofty precipice, and are dashed to pieces.

At Ghazepoor, suicides are common,-men and women throw themselves into wells, or drink poison, from apparently very slight causes; generally speaking

CONNECTED WITH INSANITY.

219

arising out of a quarrel, and in order that their blood may lie at their adversaries' door. And many scores of pilgrims come every year to Benares, to end their days, and secure to themselves everlasting salvation. They purchase two large "kedgeree pots," between which they tie themselves, thus equipped, they paddle into the middle of the stream-fill the pots with water, and sink to eternity.

Amongst the Japanese, suicide is a general practice when they have incurred disgrace, as it spares them the ignominy of being punished by others, and confers on a son the right of succeeding to his father's post. All the officers of government are provided with a suit necessary for such an occasion; it consists of a robe and a habit of ceremony, made of hempen cloth, but without any design, or armorial bearings. As soon as the order of the court has been communicated to the culprit, he invites his intimate friends for the appointed day, and regales them. After they have drank together for some time, he takes leave of them, and the order is again read over to him, after which, having addressed a speech to the company, he inclines his head towards a mat, draws his sabre, and cuts himself across the body, penetrating to the bowels. One of his confidential servants, then strikes off his head. Such as wish to display superior courage, inflict a second longitudinal cut, and then a third in their throat. Titsingh, in his history of Japan, says that the sons of people of quality, exercise themselves in their youth for five or six years, with a view that they

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CAUSES OF SUICIDE.

may perform the operation, in case of need, with grace and elegance; and he adds that they take as much pains to acquire this accomplishment as the youth amongst us do, to become elegant dancers, or skilful horsemen.

The causes, which most frequently tend to produce an inclination to commit suicide in civilized countries, are certain passions of the mind, in particular, those occasioned by reverse of fortune, and by disappointed hope, by the active feeling of hatred of life, or by the passive feeling of ennui, or weariness of life.

The operation of such violent and sudden emotions, as produce the state of mind bordering on delirium, in which suicide is attempted, is in general rapid, and transitory; for if the individual misses his aim, he seldom renews the attempt; and the mind, assisted by the powerful impression produced, regains its self-control.

The same effect has been observed to take place, when the cause impelling to suicide has been arrested in its action, as in the following instances. A lady, when walking out with her child, lost it in a crowd; this threw her into a state bordering on distraction, and she determined to destroy herself; very fortunately, after some time had elapsed, the child was found, and presented to her just in time to alter her purpose. Another lady, labouring under insanity, was seized with a propensity to commit suicide, by drowning herself in a river, on her way to which, she stopped short, and her purpose was given up; upon inquiry, it was found that the menstrual discharge, which had for some time been suppressed, had suddenly re-appeared.