The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-12-18
MUSIC FOR THE INSANE.
AN EXPERIMENT WHICH INTERESTS
ALL THE CIVILIZED WORLD.

NoveI Treatment of Women Patients on
Wards Island Some Encouraging
sIgns-Photographs which show I'm
Observation-Disclosures s n Remedial Agent.
ON Wards Island where the state
cares for the insane of Manhattan.an
experiment is being tried which inter
ests all the civilized world. There,
where the poor are treated, the latest
development of science is being PUT
TO the test. and daily trials are being
made OF the effect of music on the
brain, TO determine how far it can he
relied upon as remedial agent. Just
what the ultimate result will be it is
too soon to state with authority. The
physicians who have the matter in
charge are watching and studying
each case assiduously. They are not
yet ready to commit themselves ms
10 results, but details, ms far as the
experiment has gone. were cheerfully
given and are full of interest.
The theory is not new. 1t was known
TO and discussed by the ancients. Pyth-
agoras prescribed sonnets to those la
boring under alteration of mind, be
cause OF their rhythmic movement.
Xenocrates. 500 h. c., following his
teaching, played Tyre and sang to
the insane. Centuries la'or. Ferinell,
the eminent singer is said TO have
cured Thiinr OF Spain of homicidal
mania by singing ballads &C. ~. -laally.
1t is well known among students of
brain disease that few South Germans
commit suicide, and il is held probable
that there is some connection between
that fact and the extreme fondness
for music which characterizes the ma
ton. But II was not until quite re-
Gently that anything like systematic
experiment was made, or any scientific
records kept. In 1877 and 1873 some
desultory effort was made on Black
wells Island. In 1856 the Lancet dis
cusscd the subject, and is quoted as
saying: Music influences both brain
and spinal cord, probably on account
of music having vibratory or wave
motion and through It's vibrntory ac-
ton stimulates the nerve centres.
Music nets as refreshing mental
Stimulant and restorative. Therefore
1t braces depressed nervous tone. and
indirectly through the nervous system
reaches the tissues" And now. i'm
Manhattan Free Hospital. the theory
is being daily applied, and effort is
being made to reach definite and sat
isfactOry conclusions. DR.. Baily. the
well-knOwn brain specialist, with his
able wife. and DR. Peterson. who is
the consulting surgeon of Wards ISL
and, became convinced that music was
desirable aid. and being eager TO
prove the benefit, agreed TO supply
music for one hour day if DR.. Il. G..
Dent, Superintendent of the Womans
Hospital. would arrange a class and
Keep all records. This Or Dent agreed
TO do, and for n number of weeks the
experiment has been under way.
Technically there are many kinds
of insanity. For their proper treat
ment patients are divided into groups
or classes, the cases of acute mania
together, those Of mclancholia i'm an
other ward and so on. In order to
ascertain the effect of music. it must
be tried upon each class or group scpa-
rately. To make a close study pos
sible there should not be too many.
so twelve sufferers from mclancholia
were first chosen, then twelve whose
disease takes the acute form. The
music will be continued until class
from each ward has been subjected
to the test SO far there is a general
feeling among the physicians that a
gain is being made. but they are con
sentative. and Chary Of stating any
thing positively. until closer study has
been given. and reports have been
more CAREFUL considered
Two afternoons recently the writer
attended the class. In the interval be.
tween the first and second visits two
days only had elapsed yet the faces
seemed brighter and more intelligent
upon the second day and one or two
showed decided Increase i'm inter
est The class in progress was the
acute one. Among its members was
one poor girl who rayed necessarily
IN an excited manner. another who was
apparently obliviOus 10 all her sur.
roundings others who were quiet. but
absolutely dull and lifcless. II was
noticed that the programmes consist.
ed or sentimental classical music At
three O'Clock the class is ushcrcd into
the music room. The members are
unrestrained. but nurses watch every
change and note 10 down Before the
music begins, ana ngaiu when the class
is closed, the temperature. respiration
and pulse OF each patient are taken
by the nurses aud recorded. During
thc entire hour these attendants arc
ON the watch. Through their carefully
taken notes the physicians keep iu.
formed of every change. and from
these make their deductions lr DO can
be discovered that change of any sort
follows the treatment something viii
have been achieved for TO rouse the
patient or 10 change the current of
thought is all-important
Acute mania is most helped by pc-
RODS Of quietude The brain is over.
stimulated and needs rest. If 10 can
Doe discovered that one sort of music
or another Induces those periods ~
distinct advantage will De gained one
woman. It was noticed. seemed smu-
Ing in q happy contented way. The
nurse assured us that She feli the
music helped TO create her cheerful