But beyond this hindrance to accuracy lies the deeper one, that whatever may be the State under consideration, even when we have obtained the authentic numbers supplied by Government, we may rest assured that these numbers fall very far short of the actual totals. In very many statistics in which scientific and medical men are interested, they are only confronted by the difficulty of want of accuracy of observation, but in this matter to want of accuracy is added intentional misrepresentation.
Relations, friends, and I must add family doctors, will all frequently combine to slur over the self-done something which is the essence of the death cause.
But, were it even possible to avoid this source of error, there are others which also obscure our calculations; for example, of the total number of bodies found in our rivers, lakes, and ponds, and on the sea coast, a considerable number are never identified at all; and of those which are identified, in a considerable number of cases more, no evidence will be forthcoming which will be sufficient to prove by what means the deceased got into the water.
It then becomes necessary either to provide a valueless column of figures named “Found Drowned,” or else some official has to allot the cases by sentiment to suicide, murder, or misadventure, at his discretion.
As a proof, if any be needed, of the necessary inaccuracy of estimates regarding suicide totals, and the proportion which drowning bears as a means to the other means used, I add the numbers published in a Parliamentary paper for 1882-83 of the dead bodies found in the Thames, in the Metropolitan district.
- In 1882 there were found 284
- In 1883 there were found 260
- ──
- Together, 544 violent deaths.
Inquests were held on all these cases, and the best evidence obtainable was produced.
The verdicts were─
| Accidental death in | 242 | cases. |
| Wilful murder | 2 | „ |
| Suicide in | 59 | „ |
| Found drowned, i.e., no opinion offered in | 241 | „ |
And again, in a recent year, from a total of 40 corpses found in the Regent’s Canal, in the London district, 22 were returned as “Cause of death not known”; and of 46 corpses found in the River Lea, 19 were also stated to have been “Found Drowned.”