The New York herald., 1878-03-06
MUSIC AND MADNESS.

STRANGE EFFECTS OF VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL
MELODIES ON THE INMATES OF BLACKwELL's
ISLAND ASYLUM.
The musical entertain given yesterday for the
female lunatcs Of Blackwss Island was to all visitors
p.esenLa signal proof Of the efficacy of music in the
treatment OF mental diseases. The party which LETT
the 1850 A. ". boat from the loot OF Biackwelps
Island comprised Commissioner brennan, Judge
Flammer. Chamberlain rappun, Mr.. J. n. Pat,ison,
the pianist; MISS Es,elle Busetli. the well known
singer; Miss Annie Borie, the soprano OF St.
Stephens Church, Mrs Hinkley, mother OF the
lamenIcd wiic OF Susini; DR.. ii. A. Will
son, DR.. George NJ. Beard and other ladies'
and gentlemen interested In the OF these novel
medico- o-musicai experiments Or. William w. Strew,
tho medical supcrn tcndcnt OF the Lunatic Asylum,
had made admirable arrangements for the concert
be given 10 The lunatics, whose perfect discipline
cleanliness and cheerful obedience spoke well the
new manag omcnt Of this important institution. The
first experiments were made upon some few Of the
worst female maniacs VINO were separately called up
10 the stage OF the library hail. where Mr. Patlson
played 10 them with varying effect.
soME DIFFICULT CASES.
The hrst, German woman suffering from the most
violent form OF chronic manu-, ragcu ana stormed
throughout the entire muscal performance addfessed
to her Beethoven, HaudcI, "How Can Leave I hee -
III love the old songs" and all other musical persua
sons remained wei neh lost upon her until at last
"The Heart Bowed Dowu seemed TO exercise at least
u slightly calming ELECT upon her. This one oil
tue worst cases III the asylum, the woniau having
even once attempted to commit suicide. Her
pulse, whicn was l2o al the beginning
was lu0 when she was removed BY main force. 4 he
sceona, thih' i't'ie woman stricken with puerpcra
mania, onoroa more promising results aud the roAick-
ing measures Of lively tune made her aasD away
her shawl and 80 into nts OF convulsIve nilaruy:
some martial airs, however, had the strange efcL Of
cxcliug her greatly aud arousing her iulcnsest
re iIcr pulse rose from eighty to Ito. WheD
''Ny Country, tits of Thcc,n was played
she burst INTO song aud followed the piano
with toleraole hdeiity. The third, buxom, rosy
che, ked patient also IA sufferer from puerpera,
MANIA seemed to be cheered up by the music, which
she sang werdy enough with her thick, hoarse voice
Tho fourth Was by Tar The best subject emacated
haggard creature who bad been restrained Tor oug
time uud who took nor seat Ia corner ike hgure OF
stone, without utlerlng sound, but with a nxed
mauiac stare, wbiCn u seemed impossible 10 move or
even SOL ten. But kathleen MavourDeen" made her
breast heavc Al last and sad risintvc sigh escaped
her Then nervous risors or chilis came over her,
she complained oi cold aud her hitherto
frenzy seemed farly brca. down before tho
vigorous assaults OF the pano. For the first time
many months she gave sensible reply to
a query, Tor when Dr.. strew Kindly asked
her II sbc liked music she responded, 'fes, do"
whicn DR. Strcw justly rcgaroed as u very aroat tr-
umpn. There was AN Old woman who, when 'sPctures
IN the Air" was played, kept time to tho by
violent siapp,ng oi her Knees, while another mer.
riiy launched into dance.
rERFoRMAScE By DowSiYG's BAND
Alter these experiments upon solitary patients bad
iriea IN tho afternoon upon much larger SCALE
Downins's band had generously volunteered 10
pay graiuuousy Tor the lunatcs upon this o..
casion, ana whom the band took up tner position
upon the stage not less than oIght hundred Inmates
o The Institution were seated IN the hall Tne nrst
piece played was "Farewclt to tho Foresi,n by Men
deissohn, ana already here IL was remarkable 10 OBJ
serve The strangely varying effects oil the music upon
these poor, helpless women Some swaycd before II
like rccus before the wna; others remained almost
unmovcdj some signed and strange, convusivo mo-
tons appeared TO pass over thcm while others coz
cred baek almost u right ami with eyes moist with
tcars. tho "Wilam TcIr' overture. with Its vivid
and thrilling effects, appeared 10 create astronsly
exhiiarating impression, and many of the
patients could be seen with eyes and mouths
opeued wiuc with wondor, and giving way
at every new movement 10 TITS OF idiotic
hiiarity During the "PostlIon Polka" an irish girl,
whose ''icIine tcrocy' has becn aIrcaiy described
III the HERALD, and who haa seemed TO be almost
untamabe, ield TIER sides with goc, and her eyes
were liked upon tho Uand In dreamy rapture. Al
the Sweet BY and BY" the bapcss Irish gri bccame
wild with delight that she ecstatically threw OF her
| shawl, and thencsiorward she never Tor instant
| took her eyes of the stage, and kept mumbling 10
herself necessarily IN very pleased sort o manner
Another OF he iunutics Kept shaking her head az the
band, third wept with Der head pressed against the
wall, "a lourh cnppsc bsr hands, hth stared dole-
fuiiy upon The floor, but nearly all sosmed be
Affected inors or less. u. f'i- A' .tL
This brought the musical entertainment 10 close