Show THE SENTIMENT AGAINST SUICIDE THE rapid increase in ia the rate of suicides is a matter that warrants serious consideration attempts have been made at different periods in history to legislate against the crime in many european countries as france bavaria england lower germany and switzerland remembrance is still preserved of the penalties denounced against suicides the victims property was confiscated his remains denied burial or perhaps disinterred while often the yet quivering body of ef the self murderer was mangled by the minions of the law carried on pitchforks or dragged on a hurdle through the streets as a warning against future cases it A is doubtful whether even these horrible indignities could prevent a manso man so determined from cutting the thread of his own existence one slash of the knife or a sudden report rings out and all is over the victim to melancholia is beyond all amenity to earthly tribunals the detestation in which the act has been held in all ages is beyond question it is a proper sentiment although it should never be roughly or barbarously expressed the knowledge of the existence of this general condemnation may have been the means of checking the growth of suicide as some sensitive people who might otherwise in their morbid conditions have committed the act have probably been deterred by the thought of the repugnance with which their memory would be regarded by their surviving friends |