CHAPTER XIII.
STATISTICS OF SUICIDE.

Number of suicides in the chief capitals of Europe from 1813 to 1831—Statistics of death from violence in London from 1828 to 1832—Number of suicides in London for a century and a half—Suicides in Westminster from 1812 to 1836—Suicide more frequent among men than women—Mode of committing—Influence of age—Effect of the married state—Infantile suicides—M. Guerry on suicides in France—Cases—Suicide and murder—Suicide in Geneva.

In Great Britain, owing to the neglect of statistical science, much difficulty has been experienced in obtaining anything like correct data respecting the number of suicides committed annually. For the details given in this chapter we are indebted to various authorities. Every work has been consulted which it was supposed would throw some light on the subject.

Number of Suicides in the chief Capitals of Europe.
Places.Periods. Suicides. Proportion
to Population.
Berlin1813-18223601 in750
Copenhagen1804-18061001 —1,000
Naples18283301 —1,100
Hamburg1822591 —1,800
Berlin1799-1808601 —2,300
Paris18363411 —2,700
Milan1827371 —3,200
Berlin1788-1797351 —4,500
Vienna1829451 —6,400
Prague182061 —16,000
Petersburg1831221 —21,000
London1834421 —27,000
Naples1826131 —173,000
Palermo183121 —180,000

Statistics of Suicide & Deaths from Violence in general, in London.

1828. 1829. 1830. 1831. 1832.
——-——-——-——-——-
Suicide4135254852
Executed1267610
Murdered64252
Poisoned77474
Found dead1561355
Drowned1503697131149
Burnt4753613536
From famine10011
From intoxication73401
From suffocation1010555

Number of Suicides in London during a Century and a half.