Proceedings
Pre-Columbian Indian Attitudes Towards Suicide as Chronicled by the Spanish Conquistadors in New America (1526-1688)
Scott J M
This is an abstract of a paper in which the author reviewed Indian suicide practices & attitudes toward suicide in Mexico, Middle & South America as recorded by Spanish chroniclers in the New World. Suppression of religious suicide & cannabalism caused the indigenous cultures to adopt Spanish methods of controlling depression. Alcohol assauged depression & Catholic cults of martyrs & saints replaced the magical significance of religious suicide. (0 refs.) (MM)