Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-07
MUSIC AS MEDICINE.
Experimenting Upon Patients Whom
Drugs, Had Failed to Help.
OPINIONS OF HERBERT SPENCER.
He Thinks Exhilarating Measures Would
Have the Best Effect,
But SOFT STRAINS HAVE THE VOTE

| LONDON, Oct. 6-The Herald correspond
ent cables as follows: As the committee
which is just now trying to introduce music
as a medicine for the sick in the London
hospitals has conveyed the impression to
the public that Herbert Spencer suggested
the idea called upon the great philosopher
yesterday. The story had been going
around London that Mr. Spencer was en-
| thusiastic over the idea of using music in
America to strengthen the nerves of people
prostrated by too intense application to
business. 1t was asserted that ever since
the philosophers last visit to New York,
when he announced what he called the
gospel of rest and recreation" he had been
anxious to do something useful for Ameri-
cans and that he had hit upon music as q
good agency.
Mr.. Spencer received me in his study,
one of the most charming workrooms 1
have ever seen. He has just returned from
his country home, where he was obliged to
seek rest and strength after the enormous
mental labor which he performed in writing
his last profound work on ethics. His eye
was bright his color good, his figure erect,
his step elastic. After seeing him it is
rather puzzling to hear him say that he
cannot engage in intellectual toll now with
out serious consequences to his health.
When I told Herbert Spencer that the
Herald was anxious to lay before the public
the circumstances under which he came to
conclusion that music might prove an i'm
portant agent in the treatment of sickness,
he assured me that he was not in any way
IL l. e.. ! H.,
FAvoRs EXHILARATING MUSIC.
'I did not suggest the idea at ALL" he
said, land 1 was surprised to even find
that my name had been publicly mentioned
in connection with it. The fact is that the
committee having the matter in charge
wrote me a letter asking me for my opinion
as to whether solemn or exhilarating music
would be the more beneficial to persons
whose nerves were weakened by illness.
"1looked over the programme which they
sent me and wrote back to say thought
that exhilarating music would be the most
likely to produce good results That is my
entire connection with the experiment. 1
would not care to be drawn into discussion
of the subject, nor to engage in any contro-
versy. have been exceedingly careful not
to overburden myself with any sort of
mental effort"
This robs the music medicine experiment
of its most important credential, although
Sir Andrew Clark has contributed to the
committee and has written favorably about
the experiment. Several American physi-
clans are studying the idea for the purpose
of introducing it in America. The general
verdict at the rehearsal in the Westminster
Palace Hotel on Monday was distinctly
favorable.
AN EXPERIMENT.
I sat beside New York physician who
had come to hear the music, and learned
from him that i'll his opinion there could be
no doubt that with the proper kind of Sc
lections great results could be reached in
many cases of nervous diseases The main
thing was to discover what sort of music is
most restful and most stimulating. There
was huge screen stretched across the hall
On one side of it sat the musicians, with
their conductor; on the other side the audi
ence, which listened to the strains from an
invisible choir. AT the end of every piece
the venerable secretary of the committee
would step from behind the screen, explain
the character of the music, indicate whv it
had been selected and give the results of the
experiments made in the wards of hospitals.
The effect of the whole performance was
soothing, but rather wearying. The voice
of the soprano was disagreeable in quality
and irritating. The chief fault Of the music
medicine is that it is impossible to find
ward full of patients where the cases are so
much alike that any particular kind of
music would be suited for all Lively, flip |
pant and sprightly measures might irritate |
some, while soft, solemn music might cause
patients of morose temperament to become |
and weep.
QUITE A CONTRAST.
This was very apparent in the contrast be- |
tween the allegro for pianette and violin of |
a most lively character, and Schumann's |
beautiful music written to Robert Herrick's |
words:
Charm me asleep and melt me so with thy |
delicious numbers.
That being rayished hence go away in easy |
slunIbers.
The effect of the lullaby was sleep in
ducing, while the allegro sounded sharp,
almost harsh. Rut the most startling evil |
dence of the effect of inappropriate music
was the shock to the audience when hurdy |
gurdy in the street outside the hotel struck
up ''The Wearing of the Green" Every
one in the room seemed startled by the in
congruous sound. The audience was in one
mood and the music was in another.
He gave some statistics showing the differ
ent effect music had on the sexes. In the
male ward after lively music and soft music
had been alternately played bed to bed
canvas was made in order to learn the ver-
dict of patients. The sick men were nearly
divided in opinions, although the majority
were in favor of soft music. In the female
ward, where the same experiment was made,
nearly all the patients decided in favor of
soft music. My medical friend said this
showed very clearly that soft music was as a
rule more suitable for extremely nervous
people, notwithstanding Herbert Spencer's
opinion.
THE strongest Endorsement of Mellin's
Food is the multitude of healthy, active
children who have heen rearad ,,oy - IT, |