The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-17

L.
where and oaI OF much serious opinion.
professional and benevolent s2rzzg the
GS1lld OF Satn. Cecilia The object %
t11s. the ptonner medical musical society
o. tie world. was three-foI3.
trs,-@To res< by ahRnSiAnt trial the
power of Soft mastc 10 induce csimnsSs
o. mind, alleTis ton Of pain. and sleep
seSonsf--'T To provide q number ~ Spe-
caally trained musicians who shall be IN
readiness 70 answer promptly the sum
mons % 4 physician
Ihtr3-"To provide a large hail IN
central part of London IN which nslsssc
Seail De given throughout all the hours
OF the day and night. this music 10 be
conveyed BY telephone 70 certain wards
N each or the chief hospitals in LONDON"
after about year OF experiment the
s9ii9 reports We're cheering. The strains
or Saint Cecilia proved medicinal In
one hospital the music produced general
tranquility among the patients. bringing
steep 10 - per cent. or them, from an
other Il was learned that in seven cases
out OF ten the temperature OF the pa
tents was reduced and the pain which
they suffered alleviatesi
The good works OF Saint Cecilia seen
began 10 be uoised abroad and the health
giving function Of snusic has since then
received due attention from men OF Sci
ence. II the Review OF Reviews March,
ISL *Hfs-4tNAS OF weight are given Us.
one authority SAYS. The effect OF music
is to dilate the blood vessels so that the
blood flows more freely and increases she
sense Of warmth. BY Increased blood
supply nutrition Is effected. For the i'm
provement Of health. which depends upon
nutrition, the musician is an lndispsusa-
BILE ally OF the physician" 4 point of
interest in the medical use OF music is
that IL Is said not only 10 heal the patisnt
but also 10 reveal him. BY pogiel. Rus
sian authority quoted in the above men
toned Review. we are told that an the
variation of the blood pressure, the pc
cultarities Of individuals. whether man or
lower animals, are plainly apparent; and
even nationality in the case OF man has
some effect"
Among the instruments used in the ad-
ministration of music to the sickNit has
been ascertained that the violin. well
played, has the most soothing effect. The
piano. too, is mentioned with praise.
while the either with its "heaven-born''
melodies Is in some quarters regarded as
sovereign; and "a musical box worked by
an electric motor cure for insomnia"
is the suggestion or a physician Of eApe-
rience. The whole question is of interest
deep and wide. The ancient story OF Or
pheus is not unmitigated fiction; its
foundations so far down into solid fact.
You remember it-how, when that chief
HtlssCfdu hadStu upon RiS SNtStlN NNNsAi
she'll every creature within hearing
started for the place OF melody. Man.
bird and beast trooped thither In Gem
pany. Things without visible ears Felt
the enchantment, The big oaks pulled
themselves up by the roots and struggled
toward the concert, while the very rocks
could not forbear and thrilled from their
stony hearts a delighted response 20 mu-
sizes call. Such testimony as this comes
10 US from the seers and chroniclers of
old. The seers and chroniclers OF these
last times talk 10 us after another fash
ion They toll us that music appears 10
living creatures that it's effects on the
lower animals are more remarkable than
those produced on the human race. and
French writer points out that of all the
arts music is the only one which animals,
fools and Idiots seem able 10 appreciate"
Physicians are reporting cures almost in
credible effected by the aid of music. and
have come TO the conclusion that il is a
valuable addition to their materia med
lea.
II may not be embarrassing to the read
err here 10 be reminded of the case Of mu-
sic cure described. about the year 1879.
by Mrs. Jackson In her story of Ramona
Whether drawn from life or from the inn
the influence of Allessandro's voice and
violin Is fair embodiment of a truth cf
science waiting to be caught" but hot
captured and classified until more recent
times. MARY GILMOUR.