Citation

MacErlean DA. Ir. J. Med. Sci. 1934; 9(6): 241-254.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1934, General Publications)

DOI

10.1007/BF02957261

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

1.That, excluding the insane, all suicides are psychasthenics and introverts and in many of them there is a marked element of hysteria interwoven in their natures.2.That the predominant underlying factors are a narrowing of the field of consciousness and a fixed idea.3.That when they commit the act they are probably suffering from a functional insanity, very often of physiological origin, and so difficult to detect, which explains the instances of so-called sane suicides. Finally, is suicide ever justifiable? May not the desire to escape from physical suffering or social or financial ruin be urged as a legitimate motive for suicide? To the orthodox thinker such an admission would strike at the very foundations of the moral law which he believes depends not upon the judgments of creatures, but upon the order intended by the Creator.

Language: en