The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-07

hysterical This state of being was
surely remarkable enough In one who
had to make his living by music: but
perhaps II depended to some extent
upon the kind Of music which he heard.
A course OF BerliOz himself has been
known to produce feelings of restless
ness and disquietude in some minds;
a surfeit of Schumann might make GER
tain people morbid: and 1t Is possible
that the cloying sweetness OF Chopin
might tend to voluptuousness I'm some
individuals. Shakespeare certainly
seems to recognize this fact. The sem
suous Cleopatra calls music the
moody food of love-" and the dukes
words in Measure for Measure are
very explicit on the point:
Music hath such a charm
To make bad good and good provoke to
harm.
AMONG MEDICAL WRITER'S.
The return. however. to our main
theme. We We're speaking of the great
amount of attention given by writer's
and physicians at various times to the
question of medicinal music There Is a
medical treatise written by Il spanish
lady as far back as the time of Eliza
beth, in which music is represented AZ
that which tends most to comfort, re-
ioice and strengthen the brain. and
as Il disarmer of epilepsy" There Is
an anonymous pamphlet. of date 1149.
entitled reflections OF Ancient and
Modern Music. with the Anulcation "f
he cure of the disease" which, how
ever. | have not seen. Twenty years
before this certain Richard Brown, IAN
ap0thecary of Oldham" had published
book 'On the Effects of Singing. Mu-
sic and Dancing on Human Bodies"
The specially of this work is its rec
Ommendation of the exercise of singing
as useful in certain disorders. In dis
cussing this point, the author lays
down Il number of propositions be-
ginning. "There is a sympathy between
he soul and the animal spirits" and
going on to assert that animal spirits
regulate the action of the heart; that
the pressure of air in the lungs. caused
by singing, more effectually removes
deleterious matter from the blood, and
so on. THE singing of certain mel
ancholy. languishing tunes, continues
this old philosopher, does. instead of
elevating the spirits, rather tend to
their depression, and, therefore, in or
der to enjoy the pleasing and profitable
effect that | have proposed in singing.
we are to make choice of such tunes
as, having life and vigor in their COM
position, are adapted 10 cheer and
elevate the soul and invigorate the
motion of the spirit" Apart from the
good effects of singing upon the singer.
this old writer especially recommends
music as helpful in attacks of the
spleen or vapOrs." Where soft
adagio. according to Mr.. Brewer, would
he very improper. as by its melOdiOus
strains it only tends to sOothe our
melancholy and bring languishing
| - a "a n
ing" the author pins his faith to a
brisk allegro" which he proclams to
he of 'prodigious service in the cure
of apOpleXies. lethargieS, ETC. The
CT. Cecilians, 1t is understood. put their
trust in soft and gentle strains. They
must take care not to bring Ian
gushing upon the spirit, though the
patient may prefer it to any results
derived from the airy, sprightly
strokes of an allegro
Mr.. Burrctti, an eminent physician
who made the music of the ancents his
particular study, was of the opinion
that music has the power of affecting
the whole nervous system. so as to
give temporary relief in certain dis
eases: and Jacques Bonnet in his His
toire de la Musique," G725) tells us how
on one occasion he was entertained by
friend then in the service of the
Prince of Orange, with the perform
ance Of three first rate musicians, who
were constantly employed by the prince
to keep him free from-mql lancholy. The
same remedy. it may be remembered,
was used by Philip V. of Spain, when.
as the result of bereavement, he fell
into "a state of melanchOlia. The queen
got Farinella to sing regularly to him.
and as result his health was very