Suicide. By W. Wynn Westcott, M.B. (H. K. Lewis.) —From
his position as Deputy-Coroner for Central Middlesex, Mr. Westcott is peculiarly fitted to write upon suicide. His work professes to be a social-science treatise, and thus we are prepared to find that the medical phase of the question has received very little atten- tion. But it can hardly be said that he has contributed anything original to the subject of which he treats. His work is that of a careful and scholarly compiler, and we must thank him for the collec- tions of statistics and other information bearing upon the question. An unfortunate example, that of Lyourgas, is introduced in the chapter upon the history of suicide. The Spartan legislator, so far as we are aware, went into voluntary exile ; he did not kill himself. As regards the suicidal rate, it is curious to note that it is on the increase in the more civilised countries, as also among the most highly. cultured races. The Germanic races show the highest proportion of suicide in Europe and America. In the Protestant States of Europe, also, suicide is more common than in the others. Thu popular notion that all suicides are insane at the time of committing the act is com- bated with much force by the author. The work will repay an examination in every part.
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