The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-16
MUSIC AS A HEALER.
New York Physicians to Test the
Sound Treatment.
Society Like tho st. Cecilia Club Of
London to BE Formed.

Preparations are under way In New York
city for an important experiment In med
ical treatment by sound vibrations. The
power of music to soothe Is so universally
known as to have found expression In an
adape. Recently IL has been scientifically
determined that music has also the power
to heal.
Several years ago the ST. Cecilia society
was organized In London for practical
test Of the effect of mfsic upon certain
forms of nervous disorder It's membership
was made up Of prominent physicians ana
skilled musicians--the former to direct and
the latter to execute. The success OF the
experiment Is a matter OF history.
Gradually the idea hns been developed
among medical men here that similar aid
90 the treatment OF nervous troubles was
possible. Several prominent physicians
have taken the matter up, and plans are
under discussion which promise the speedy
Organization Of an American st. Cecilia.
Recent remarkably successful expert
ments by Professors Tarchanof Of st.
Petersburg, Mosso Of Turin and Tero Of
Paris have rekindled interest In sound vi
bration as medical agent, and practical
application of the science as now proposed
has met with cordial approval here.
Foremost among the scientific men In
terested In this movement is DR.. Frederick
Peterson, q neurologist. II am not as yet
in q position to announce tho actual or
ganlzation OF tho medicomusical society,""
said be, "but there Is every prospect thai
the coming year will SEQ II In operation.
-Four years ago, when the theory OF
sound vibration as remedial agent In cer-
tain forms of sickness was In its infancy,
the st. Cecilia club was organized In Lon
don. It's purpose was to test the effect OF
music upon the sick, and Its membership
was recruited from the ranks of science
and society.
Later Professor Tarchanoff made his
experiments, and there now remains no
doubt as to the accuracy OF his theory. i
am ardently In favor OF the organization Of
a club In this city to be modelled after the
st. Cecilia.
Sound vibrations in music certainly act
in q marked way upon certain forms OF
disease For example,, cases OF insomnia,
no matter how severe, arc invariably re-
lieved. Music also nets with surprising ef-
feet upon mild forms of insanity, particu-
ldrfy IN that form known as mefHnchUffu
"In short, there are great forces In mu-
sic which can DO utilized for the relief OF
disease and human suffering.
"All this will be readily understood by
any ono who stops to think. We all know
how lively music dispels dependency. Ev-
cry soldier will testify to the inspiring In
fiuence of music In war. This, scieptifical-
~ considered, means simply that sound VI
bratIons act directly upon tho nerves.
1T -. n .s.ev .tx.a "a
fact that lively melody touches exotic
motor nerves, increasing the vitality OF the
hearer Melancholy music, on the con-
trary, acts upon tho inhibitory nerves, de-
creasing vitality and engendering mental
depression.
. "There In a nutshell you have the science
OF sound vibration as applied to medical
treatment. IL is for tho application Of this
science that an organization such as the
proposed society is all essential. "
Mindful Of the importance OF first class
musical support, tho promoters OF the
scheme have not been idle. IL Is said that
nj least dozen men and women promi-
nent In tho musical world stand ready to
cooperate.
One OF Professor Tarchanoff's latest cx-
periments illustrates the fact that the pro-
DOSOu rnlsNlpn VIII ltNt w rtiN'e fer
musical instruments az we'll as its music
with scientific care
In this experiment tho crgograph, won
derful little contrlvancc, tho invention OF
Professor Mosso, was used. This, applied
10 tho muscles Of the hand and arm, in
ducos extreme fatigue, which ut the same
time 10 measures
Tho subject OF Professor Tarchanoff',
test FIRST submitted his hand 20 the ergo
graph. Then tho real experiment began
A Iivcly air was rendered by skilled hnrp
ist snutsd ncor tho subject Almost instant
! ly the tired muscles rcgnincd their full
yigor Fatigue vanished as u by magic.
Again the experiment wns repeated, I
mandolin being used instead of hnrp, ans
with tho fame inviroratinR effect. Bu
when cello was substituted for tho light
or instruments tho subjects fntigued arr
became almost powcrlcss. ard his yitalit.
decreased tn marked extent.
1 80 " viii b seen thut tho rrirncc q
msdioo sound vibration demands discrimi
nation IN the selection ef instruments .
well 90 OF melodieA