The New York herald., 1878-01-13
MELODY CURES MADNESS
''DluSic Has Charms 10 SeOthc the Savage
Breasl"-Piano vs.. Sirailjaeket.
Effects on Different Temperaments and
Conditions. of Dementia.

Commls lssioncr Brennan put himsolf his boat and
his ass sistants the disposal OF small party OF ex-
porimcntcrs the other day, and they all went up TO
the Insane Asylum oil BlackweIs Island, 1t had
been proposed try the effect OF music on some OF
the In that iustilulion and 'he company
wore equipped with arlst IN tho person OF the
famous pianist Mr. J. N Pattson (lhe original pro-
jecor of this expcrtmentl, ana medical expert in
Dr. u. A. Wilson, and two or three philosophical
humanitarIans who had read "Chomet's" theory OF
"musical fluids" and had not forgotten Disraeps
chapter medical music
There are some !, 400 female patients on Blackwols
Island, and their types Of dementia range through
all known conditions, from mild melancholia up to
paroxysmal madness. 1t must not be supposed that
music Is q stranger to the place. Commissioner
Brennan always believed the efficacy OF whole
some entertainments, and tho music nall, with its
little stage and its piano, are the results oi bis
kindly exertions for the amelioraion OF the condi
tion OF these poor wretchcs But such music az
has furnished at odd intervals has been merely
for their ertanment and had no scientific object
or direction Scores OF noble hearted artists bavo at
various times gone up to the Island and played and
sung these uufortnnaes obtaining their reward IN
the transient happiness that fitted over tho vacant
faces. Anything liko a specific application Of music
with the purpose OF determining the effect Of different
modes upon different organizations and forms OF IN
sanity does not appear TO have been tried.
Such was the object Of the present expedition. Dr.
William N. Strew the medical superinte ndent met
the party the Island and showed the alacrty OF an
intelligent and benevolent officer when tho project
was explained to him. He feared, however, that tina
conditions not favorable inasmuch as tho
musical instrument at his command was not Of the
best and some preparation should havo been had in
order to make the experiments as nice as possible It
determined to 80 ahead with such means as could
pdnI and thnr Ito all
ing TO enlarge and perfect the at subsequent
trial.
A CURIOUS PROCESSION.
Orders wero then sent TO the matrons to permit tho
patients to assemble in the amusement hail. long
wooden building standing at some distance from the
main structures. Almost Immediately could be seen
streaming the Intervening spaces OF the Island
ana moving down the main avenue the iororn women.
The hint OF music started them like children. They
we're Of all ages nationalties temperamens; but
they were all alike in their aspect of wretchedness.
The January winds swept icily the Island and
fu,tered their thin shawls and meagre skirts Some
of them ran with childish haste others went steahy
in sullen groups but the largest number moved in
gaunt body mechanically us If they had formed tho
habit OF going but could anticipate no pleasure
Anything moro grotesquey pathetic than this array
OF unfortunatcs 1t took possession Of the vacant
hall cannot be conceived. Such an array Of human
wrecks could not surely be found anywhere else in
life.
uEREDrTARY rAIST.
To stand thus iu The presence Of tneso grim phan-
toms that seemed to have been evoked suddenly,
wearing the dread mysteries OF Ito and conauct
their distorted countenances was TO be touched by
awful sadness No doubt the baser elements OF civi-
zstion prsdomnated hera the public drag net had
swept tho hidden place At the gloomy depths OF that
upon whose sunny surface we sport The mall
formed heads the animal natures, tho ndebic marks
OF every human excess that two or three generations
of dissoluteness had succeeded IN stamping tho
latest victim; the constantly betrayng automatonism
oil tnoso whose habits and manners had been formed
before they lost the Will TO hide tnem tho sullcn,
hunted vicious air--al these thugs iold the obscrv
ant onooker that the lower station OF society had fur
nished oi these patients Little encouragement
IN coarse ibres Tor the experimenters wto
hoped TO get answering vibrations
A somewhat diiaridated piano, whose maker was un-
known, was pulled out IN front oil TIE stage. Mr..
Paltson his nimDie hngers over IT, II was, for
tunatey, not much out OF tune. The harmonious
sounds ioll gracously upon the place and seemed
chase out the hupbup aud gloom. Dr. Wilson walked
down aisle scanned closely the different faces
They were hard haegard faces most OF thcm-scarreu
ne amcd aud vacant-wth bruial lines piuchcd
prossion IL the soul had great difficulty IN making
It's way through The coarse flesh; nero nnd there u
trace Of what must have once becn beauty. Now aud
then a mild pathos seated delicate features that
betrayed strain VI gentle blood, but Tor the most
part IL repusive and melancholy collection OF
human de5rs
HARD SUBJECT.
eighteen or twenty. She one OF the wooden
benches, her hidden under the thin faded shaw
that she held tightly around her. IL was one of chose
peasant faces That often seen III Ireland or Nor
way. gaunt beauty deying It's high check bones
anu heavy Jaw lace that could only be the result
great arudgcry ana ignorapcc. Tho gray eyes, IN
which there was u pale light, were shadowed by
square brow. Ihs checks were mantled with "a vital
color tnat cerebral disorder could quite exinguIsh,
but there were innaned streaks about her deep set
es, she had dug her fists Into them vlcously
ana nopeIcssly. There was purple bruso on hor
rb,ek nsi
seifdeience, and tho unkempL hair That mad
been luxurious looked US II 1t had been
pulled ut and tninned, and 1t stuck out IN
short bristlng punches aegressIvely Added to this
there Mingled feline icrocity and stealth IN her
Qcmeanor rs she seemed TO crouch there ana looked
up from Drows as II from a moral death at
rybody around her. Dr. Wilson spoke to her
kindly. She turned her head away mechanically, and
u crafty smile distorted her mouth. HeIad his nand
upon her black hair and sno seemed to natten her
the iolds oi her shawl They got her up close to the
piano, sat her down ia chair very near the player
ana she crouchcd aud pcered aboat Ike suspicious
animal Hundreds OF bank faces were peerng AT her
without curiosity, but with uull glimmer VI satis-
faction at any Kind Of show that varied the monot-
UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
Mr. Pattison ran gently through nocturne OF
Chopiu's As the lights and shadows OF pic
ture varied the poor creature seemed become
dued the expressions vi her lace showed poace.
FIJI mental oondlt,on The lone poem as played had
Caught her sense. Wnen the nocturne was finished,
the muscles OF her face again commenced tw.tchng,
scalp moved in discgrccable way. and ner ore-
head and br0ws knit themselves II she tried At
tunes TO comprehend her emouons. The music
was changed 10 dance measure. and presently swung
OF into spirited poiks Curously enough this, too,
cxcilcd her; her Involuntary movement became more
pronounced. she laughed IN a meaningless manner;
tne circulation was improved her pulse becoming
fuller stronger, and increased from so 10 los.
During The performances a German woman had
crept up close TO he Instrument anu attracted
attention. OF altogether different ORGANIZATION from
o the Irish giri the music affected her emotional
nature This woman bore the traces OF misery IN her
facc they vanished at the bidding OF the music and
q strange exultatIon ovcrsprcad ner features.
suddenly Mr.. Paltison cnanged the melody without
a nute vi warming He commenced 10 play, IN his
contest and tendcrest manncr, Home, sweet Home"
For moment there was husncd and deadly ST.
lence; then IT was b. oxen by the German woman wnd
had dropped upon her knocs In the midst of the
itorss The tears were streaming down her face; her
hands lifted appealinsiy TO heaven, ana IN
broken but mpassoivd zones she gave expression 10
her emotion words.
She was repeating The Lords Prayer. 1t was lncx-