Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-11-08
is MUSIC IN MEDICINES.
Experiments in Melody as d Cure for
Certain Forms a lnssni+r

A physician who is acquainted with
the work OF the Pathological institute
OF the state Of New York in connec-
ton with the state lunacy commits
s-ol, explained today the nature of the
experiments that are being revived to
bring into the curing of certain 4or-ls
o. insanity the influence OF music.
Connected with these revivals is a Sc
rles OF tests recently made with
continuance which is applied
to the muscles of the hand and
arm, and which induces fatigue.
in the psychological child study in
1t consists Of two clamps de-
stoned to hold the wrist and fore
ann firm, aud tubular contrivance to
hold all but one finger straight. The
free finger is then hooked in a small
strap having a weight at the other
end. In the experiment the subject is
instructed to crook the finger as long
as he can. The vitality is supposed to
be shown by the length OF time the
subject can continue the exercise.
The mental capacity, or capacity for
being taught, is supposed to be indi-
Gated in tie case of the pupil.
IL experimenting it has been found
hat music played during the tests has
produced variations in the results &C
counted for in no other way When a
lively air vas played on a harp the
subject regained his vigor and kept
p the exercise for a considerable time.
When q characteristic tune was played
almost powerless, his vitality decreas-
ing rapidly.
These observations have been taken
to mean that the physical well-being
OF patient can be influenced by the
effect OF musical rhythm. Among psy-
biologists the theory of emotion, set
forth by Professor James of Harvard,
ana Professor Lang of Scotland, has
come to be well accepted. This theory
is that emotions are the result Of psy-
Geological changes in the body-that
we feel bad because we cry, and not
that we cry because we are troubled
by q ceTain feeling So, if a person
suffers from melancholia, and exactly
the opposite physiological processes are
awakened from those that make lin
melanchOlic, he is likely to become
cheerful. Or, il one IS insane through
too much gaiety, the rOusing of
physiological brain process tending to
produce the emotion of sadness, will
aid the patient.
'In nervous diseases" said the ply
stefan referred to, treatment by music
has been recognized for a long time
as really effective. French psycholo-
gists, including Louret, who has en-
N!oyed it in treating the insane, and
Ribot, a professor in the College of
France have settled the point by spe-
cific experiments. The Greeks were
not ignorant Of the effect of music in
stimulating the muscles At bottom II
is the same motive that is supposed TO
Justify bands of music in armies.
'Afer all, music is only rhythm, air
vibrations, that act upon the muscles
as any other force does. In expert
ments undertaken on the elephants and
other animals in the Jardin des
! Plantes, the vitality was materially af-
! fected by the characer of the rhythm.
| Anyone will, upon hearing an unusual
or disagreeable sound, experience
! physical sensation. A discord makes a
| trained and sensitive musician grind
| his teeth, and an unexpected cannon
shot lifts the ordinary person off his
| feet.
This same physical effect of rhythm
is recognized among savages, who en-
! ploy drums and rattles in their dances.
! The snake dance of the Yaquis and the
| long-continued sun dance Of the North
ern Indians illustrate this point.
| Grethy, one Of the extremists in adVo-
eating the James-Lang theory, has
gone SO far as to declare that the pulse
action is affected by the changing
rhythm of music. The adoption Of
! this eXpedient in New York state hos
| pitfalls for the insane is only a develop
ment of scientific investigation in the
! Pathological Institute New York
| Evening Post.