The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-12

There is a society in New York known
as the st. Cecilia Guild. which advocates
the cure OF insanity by music. The lead
ing alienists of that city do not encourage
the plan, although it is not new by any
means, and the theory that lunatics were
benefited by a concord of sweet sounds
was held as long ago as the fifteenth cen
fury. Charles Loomis Dana, the neurolo-
gist. says:
Il do not regard music as a therapeutic agent in
any respect. | have found that it attracts the at
tention Of degenerates and idiots. The life of a
patieut will sometimes be rendered more agree
able by IT, Just as II may he by SOFT bed or a
wall papered with pictures. Music may soothc
a lunatic, but 50 does a horsehdir brush"
This seems to be, the view of most physi-
clans who have made study of nervous
diseases, and none of them has expressed
the intention of learning to play the piano
in order to utilize this means of cure
There is undoubtedly something in the
idea, although insanity is SO variable a
disease that the music cure would have to
be used with considerable skill and eau
ton. Some people could be driven crazy
by music, especially certain tunes. 1t does
uOl ldht any great SlItltu Vi tut
ton to picture a poor mortal, condemned
TO hear certain popular songs or vaudeville
hymns from morning till night, eventually
being carried to the nearest lunatic
asylum, hopeless maniac. 1t would be
interesting to know how many Of the
Objectionable characteristics of certain
fanatics are due to the music of which they
arc fond A cor,hius tiop of hloodthirsty
or sickly sentimental imagery, with
melody like a very bad imitation of rag
time. ought to account for a great deal of
what is euphemistically called total de-
pravity. There really is some connection
between the arts and morals of humanity,
as well as between artistic and intellectual
development, and between brain power and
intelligent goodness. The human oonsti-
tuition is so complex in its makeup that
physique, intellect. and morals are often
more or less interdependent.
1t follows. then, that whatever may be
the effect of music upon the insane the
substitution OF good music for the opposite
type may in some cases prevent people
from going crazy. 1t is not at all unlikely,
benefit to the patients OF an insane
asylum. The influence OF harmony over a
sensitive nature is so great that it will
soothe tangled nerves, drive away melan-
choliG. and almost cure disease, and as
insanity Is largely -a-matter-of the nerves,
it can be easilysseen that a. person Of this
type would take, comfort in listening TO
the notes Of {, piano. violin, or small or
chestra, and might, perhaps. even be cured
by this means -,A.,-
One OF the unhappy mistakes which were
made in past years in dealing with the in
sane was in ~eondemning them to an idle
and vacant, II not solitary, existence. 1t
may be stated on general principles that
any human being. child or adult, sane or
insane. god or bad, is better of for having
some sort of interesting occupation. The
average sane person. if placed in an asylum
full of demented beings. with nothing to
do but think of himself and watch the
vagaries of the other inmates. would be-
come Ike his companions in misfortune.
The effect of a large institution like this
is so unfortunate that ii is not much TO
be wondered at that in many cases people
prefer to incur the trouble and risk of
keeping a dangerous lunatic at home,
among his friends, rather than place him
in an asylum. II might be a very good
thing If large charitable institutions could
be broken up, and small buildings scat
tered here and there through the country,
and filled with groups of people who
might be in one way or another congenial.
Human nature was never intended TO be
taken care OF in platoons.