Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-02-20
Inr pHILosopAY of MoIsE.
Aversion 20 Disturbance is Symptom VI
Neurotlc Degeneration.

Aversion 90 Disturbance ls symptom VI
reurotle Degeneration.
A woman suffering from neuralgia sta
tions her son 10 keep boys from making
a noise In front Of the house. A boy
comes by whistling-a performance In
which We must recognize a natural
wholesome and boylilze ect, whereupon
there ensues a short. sharp fight between
the pair, IN which oneis accidentally cut.
The upshot Il not important; the origin
Of n Is.
II has long been usual to accord spe-
eial privileges TO invalids In relieving
them against noise. Formerly straw
would be strewn in the street, and thou
sands Of persons who were not sick
would be inconyierced to ease the pains
Of one who was. In part this custom
was one Of ostentation. II could be
practiced only by the influential who
were exalted by making themselves
nuisance. When death eusucd, hatch
ment waa set up In the same spirit OF
yainglory Al the windows in the
house were closed for term. the dura-
lion Of which was fixed by custom, but
which bore q relation 10 the estate Of the
deceased aud the consequent degree OF
exaltation descending upon his heirs.
All healthy animals delight in noise.
The description includes barbarous folk
aud children. Dogs bark Ccurs only
sneak off,, birds scream. boys shout,
girls clap hands 20 their ears in sweet
confusion, horses paw, all animate ma
ture responds 20 the exhilaration Of noise.
The sick do not IN every form OF sick
ness the nervous function Is deranged,
AS wo have seen above mankind has
shown It's appreciation Of this fact by its
customs. Excessive sensibility TO noise
is thus one symptom Of nourotic degen-
grafton. II Is the mark Of one broad dis
tinction between the state Of civilization
and its opposite. IL testilies to one part
Of the price which that state exacts from
man on his physical side.
Within civilization itself indifference
TO noise is one Of the distinctions Of a
system rudely healthful, both in body
and mind. The converse Of this propo-
stion Is equally true. Whenever a per-
son displays peculiar sensitiycness 10
noise we may know that the case Is one
OF AN unwholesome mind In an unwhole-
some body. From the fact that the dis
turbance Is essentially neurotic one II
follows that II Is comfortable 10 great
extent by the will Much Of the dis
turbance that is experienced from noise
can be put completely aside by exercise
Of the will. A barking dog may keep
ono person awake while his healthier or
wiser neghbor sleeps tho hleep VI the
Just. Under tho pinging OF the cable
car bells a yaletudinarian subsidies into
frenzy while his younger clork Is lapp,d
In dreams of the equally unconscious
typewriter on tho next Goor. The con
traat here need not bo one Of relative
strength Of mind merelyi one Of the two
minds is sick.
In such u ease the will power Is inn
paired. Il would probably ba found that
the complaining person IA also irritable,
passionate, perhaps consumed by sell
contemplation, Ia many cases Of this
order relief could no doubt be gained
through treatment boy suggestion. But
ln vastly the greater number the patient
u competent to minister 10 himself He
u siill capable Vt eKerting tho will, and
ln this exercise lies complete aud per,
nlahoBt cure. Furthermore, the cure
dose not apply alone 10 tho particular
nolso that may have called for IL. II will
ho found ~ have influenced the mind
permanently Tho injurious effects at.
iubuted "a nUiae do not proceed FROM
Niihoui, bui frgia within, They do not
lBhsfs in lhe aerial vibrations, bat in the
mental Response made ~ them.
Finally a ought to BE- observed that
llle disease is ono thst increases by b..
ing yislded a. Tho noise that 4 hrsi
noiiced ~ An annoy Anec Ia sumo uio.
meet ~ ifFilaii0n, auEisly % other nsEy.
ous disturbance can bs nursad into An
,hjsOi ~ horror Time wa when foika
thought henFliiYonsss a. uulss a. be syi.
debfo ~ high strung character. Thsy
vrse faiilsf proud II n and troited Il
ferih ~ pnbhe Tho world knows b.t
lfI nos iiefecis hsniiiaia ~ ths Ara
Ntlliisfigs. nhaH u rather admired
lp hiohalaa Alcklsby's ilms II n0
ienEsi hDlds lsipF fom ~ lisdlam for in
slafni, and since u has learned how
nufh slrhutas ls eiihef ffnii ~ 3 ll,aae
n lgnraugs u 70 ariiihK . llile slck II
ihnss sleA falbs, a least 4 shan a has
= rNhi ~ hak tYf elmelhlHa lstisG
Nee fUt llfsinH hHn.