Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-09-02
MUSIC AS A MEDICINE.
ITS POWER EFFECTUAL IN REMEDY
ING NERVOUS DISORDERS.
'aIicnts at RandalFs Island, Under the
i"tiuence of Music, Show Various
hinges OF Medical Condition Tho
M.LilCnl Musical SncictY InternstnI

Influence of Music, Show Various
Changes OF Medical Condition Tho
Medical Musical Society Interested.
.%"T val New York medical men are
inN' eating music as an auxiliary in
'H" treatment and management of Ger.
'liIi nervous complaints, and one of
A"in. Sebastian J. WINNER. President
i the Medical Musical Society has
.,"ne 50 far as to suggest Il place for
,hc soothing language" in the matcria
mrCiica because, he says, it is remedy
or such complaints as ncuraSthcnia,
Insomnia and nervous pr0Stration. DR..
WINNER can explain the action of
music on the human body scientifically,
and he is able to demonstrate its pow
81 on the development and functional
play of the moral and intellectual
';;.tltirS
lis conclusions are as follows: 10
ihat there is Il music which has il spc-
13l action on the intelligence and on
IN" motor nerves. (2) That there is Il
music which influences particularly
the nerves of sensibility and the senti-
meuts. CD That there is a music
witch acts all at once on the motor
nerves and on the sensitive nerves. on
He further believes that between tha
effects of music and those of the all
mcnts which modify the nervous sys-
tom there are such analogies that the
laws which regulate the one and the
other may be arranged in the same
terms.
Slow. monotonous music, explains
Or. WINNER, provided it is not too
sluggish. has a calming influence over
the individual, because it is then in
harmony with the nerve habit of tho
person who listens. 1t is essential to
tne ultimate success of any CndeavOr
TO bring the brain under control that
the music should first arrest the atten-
tlon either by It's power or sweetness,
ana then gradually conduct the organ
ism into harmony with itself. Unless
measured cadence begins with Il
powerful appeal to the brain in a key
which accords with that in which the
cerebrum is at the moment itself work
ing negative result will ensue and
instead of allaying irritation the irri.
tation is more likely to be augmented,
To arouse the spirits by music plain
tive sound is required. and this must
be in the key of melancholy which
blends in harmony with the brain
state of the patient.
Some curious experiments were made
among the insane patients at Ran
dalIs Island the other day -Four hun
dred women were congregated in the
entertainment hall of the institution
and subjected to a strain of piano
music for half an hour. The general
effects were noted as follows The
pulse was raised, the patients became
restless and there was Il marked de-
sire to keep time with the music.
Every patient was susceptible to the
rhythm. and its effect was decidedly
stimulating. Melody without any very
decided or certain tempo was without
effect except in those cases where the
force of association was still active.
In Il case of chronic melancholia the
playing of Home, Sweet Home" in
variably brought the patient to her
knees, where she began to recite the
Lords Prayer in an apparent ecstasy
of devotion. In another case-one of
acute mania-the patients pulse was
elevated from IS to 106 beats, the pa
tlcnt not showing any other signs of
eXcitation save the involuntary twitch-
ing of the facial muscles. Cantabile
music seemed to have an effect in the
worst cases similar to that which it
exercises upon certain animals, the
person being disposed to lie down ami
go to sleep under its influence.
The results of all these experiments
We're markedly beneficial Many of
the patients showed great improve
ment. The effects in almost every in
stance of the pronounced rhythm were
involuntary, the movements of the
limbs and facial muscles being attri-
buted to reflex action.
Whether or not music deserves to
have an official place in the materia
medica as medicine, it certainly
stamps itself upon the sensitive nerve
organism of the individual. refreshing
and stimulating it, and thus paving the
way to modifying the effects of many
complaints.