The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-06
HEALTH In
The DANCE

"Medicina gymnastica has in all ages
justly been of great esteem in the cure
| of chronical diseases and still contin-
ues its reputation, as its usefulness Is
confirmed by daily experiences" So
wrote that ingenious musical apothe-
/ cary, Richard Browne, more than a
century and a half ago. These meth
DDS. however, died out soon after his
time, TO be revived in modified form
in our days. But. as a matter OF fact.
| Browne here refers to one particular
! form OF physical Notwithstanding. 1t
is to the goddess Terpsichore that this
| disciple Of Hsculapius bends his knee
and asks for assistance. Dancing was
| TO be a powerful auxiliary in the cure
| of disease and the maintenance of good
and lusty health.
This was by no means a new Idea.
As Browne states. dancing had been
advocated in the earliest ages FOR the
cure of diseases. Lycurgus had brought
back TO Lacedemonia notions OF medico
religious dances from India and Egypt,
and. adapting these customs TO his rul-
ing idea, enacted that the Spartan
youth should be brought up 10 dance
symmetricaiIy and gracefully. even In
heavy armor. Thus he contriVed 10
combine martial training with phys
zeal exercise which was TO make the
young men agile and graceful. CONFER
ring On them great physiological oene-
fits In the rival state we ind socrates
commencing dancing. with view 10
educating the mind and body; ne, 100
looking on dancing as health giving
exercise. In primitive medicine we liho
dancing taking a no mean part In the
occult practices. We may still see IL
working wonders iii many savage
land, the dancing being performed now
by the patient. now by the medlclne
man. according to the more or less ex-
act notions of scientific truth existing
in the region.
Dancing was, and Is, used chleny as
a means of expelling devils and eVll
spirits. or, as we now more accurately
put it, as a means of ''accelerating the
elimination of effete and deleterious Sc
cretions in the vessels and tissues by
physiological action" These notions
are not new.i even with us. Richard
Mulcaster, a celebrated schoolmaster
under Queen Elizabeth, recommended
that dancing should be taught as a
branch of physical training, resulting |
in the Improvement of polite carriage |
and department and means OF keep |
ing the bodies of young children in a |
healthy condition.
But what has happened since Richard |
Brownies days? The hours OF saltatory |
enjoyment have been receding steadily, |
until surely we must have at last ar
rived at the furthest extremity or
otherwise we shall soon be beginning to
dance by daylight again. OF course it
is no use railing against fashion. New
ertheless. we cannot help acknowledge
ing that Richard Browne was substan-
TALLY right in his protest.
These old world physicians were the
friends Of carpet dances" and what
are sometimes called bread and butter
balls" He goes as far as the most en-
thusiastic could desire: Il believe. in
deed. that to dance an hour or more at
a convenient time after any meal. ac-
cording as we find ourselves in a ca
pacity. would be most beneficial" So
here we have strong support for our
practice Of getting up impromptu Gin
derella dances on the occasion OF a
friendly dinner or evening party.
Exercise OF any kind is always good.
and dancing. bringing as it does most
l4AtAettES INTO play may S1AfA1 tE dE-
knOwledged. If not a specific for the
cure OF disease, at least a means OF
keeping body and mind in a healthy
condition. on one point. at all events.
there can be no dispute-the ancients
were perfectly right when they declared
dancing TO be a good educator. II Ger
tainly lends grace TO movements and
general department and gives agility
and Hghtness to its devotees. II is q
mild form OF gymnastics in which all
may join. with pleasure to themselves
and their companions.
We cannot DO better than conclude
with the sensible words Of Browne:
As for dancing. 10 persons in health. I
shall Just take leave 70 observe that we
by no means ought to make a toll OF
our diversion BY making i one con-
-inued scene Of action. lest We exhaust
he spirits and enervate the body. but
10 sweeten and relieve the active pleas
IRE by frequent intervals OF refresh
nent by which not only the bad effects
a hich must OF necessity be the conse-
,uence OF a long. uninterrupted Success
sion OF motion viii be entirely pre-
rented. but the body, hy such agreeable
exercise. viii gain strength and vigor
n its actions and BE- more enabled 10
preserve and keep up its economy.