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162 II. THE SWEDISH PEOPLE.
Table 30. Annual number of suicides per 100 000 inhab. in each group}
Annually Total Married men Married women SiDgle men 2 Single women 3
15—25 25—50 50—Ol 15—25 25-50 60—u) 15—25 26—50 50—w 15—25 25—50 50—w
1831—50 . 6’47 131 186 19-6 1-5 3-2 5-3 5-6 28-4 22-2 2-6 6-3 3-7
1851-70 . 7’21 14-2 16-5 23-4 2-4 3-3 5-8 5’5 30-2 35-8 2’8 6’6 6’5
1871—80 . 8-68 7-2 18-1 26-9 3-1 4-2 7-1 61 36-7 54-4 2-9 8-0 8-6
1881—90 . 1034 7-8 19-9 34-8 2’9 4-2 80 8’4 41-6 fi5-3 31 7-7 8-6
1891-00 . 12-81 9-0 23-2 40-5 1-4 4-4 10-4 9-2 50-7 87-6 4-2 9-4 11-0
1 Death by phosphorus-poisoning among women under 50 years is not counted here as
suicide. — 2 Including widowers. — 3 Including widows.
occurrence of syphilis, it has already been shown on a preceding page (136) that
the frequency increased till about 1865, but that, since then, it has diminished
very considerably. The figures for Sweden in this respect, are, on the whole,
unusually favourable.
The death-rate among the different groups, according to civil status, affords
certain stand-points for judging of the moral condition of the people. As is well
known, the death-rate among unmarried men is always considerably higher than
that among married men, a fact which, however, depends partly on the circumstance
that the latter group, in certain respects, represents a selection, so to speak.
The difference in the death-rates of married and unmarried men is, however,
unusually high in Sweden in the more advanced ages, which, in itself, cannot
be a favourable sign. It should be observed, however, that here, too a change
for the better has been noticeable during recent years. — Between the
death-rates of men and women there appeared an important difference during the period
of the greatest abuse of alcohol, to the disadvantage of the former; during the
last few decades that difference has been essentially reduced.
The chapter on suicides is, as is well known, one among the saddest in the
history of recent times, and the remark holds good for Sweden, no less than
for most other countries. In the following table a survey is given of the
frequency of suicides, both for certain groupings with respect to age, sex, and
civil status, and amongst the population as a whole.
For the decade 1901—10, the frequency is reckoned altogether to be 15’u per
100 000. The great increase, on the whole, is particularly striking. It is,
however, peculiar to find that little or no deterioration has taken place among
the younger married men. The greatest increase amongst men is to be found
among the older unmarried men, in which class the number of suicides has
almost quadrupled.
Compared with other West European countries, the position of Sweden, has
been fairly favourable in former times, but the great deterioration of låte years
seems to be setting this favourable position at stake. The figures of Sweden
are far exeeded, however, by those of Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland,
and other countries.
Respecting the moral condition of the city of Stockholm,
exceedingly gloomy descriptions are not seldom to be found in foreign
literature. When these accounts do not contain absolute inaccuracies or
exaggerations, it may be taken as a rule that they are based upon the
conditions of earlier periods, and that they altogether ignore the changes
for the better which have taken place during the last few decades.
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