The evening world., 1904-03-22
Miss Eva Augusta VesceIius an
Active Advocate OF the Theory
That Harmony Heals the Soul
Which Is Depressed.
HEAR A SlUMBER SONG
AND YOU'LL FALL ASLEEP
Music Doctors May Come Next,
or If You Have a Photograph.
Get Grip. Typhoid Fever, Diph-
iberia and Group Cylinders.

And now 1t is the music cure-music
with a good deal Of philosophy and a
strong sprinkllng OF common sense
thrown in.
Are YOU depressed in mind? Try n
stimulant in the form nf lively choruses
or waltz songs. 10 You need n soda
tive? BY all means take n dose of
slumher song or Schumann's 'Trau-
merle"
Last Saturday evening Miss Eva Au-
gusta Vescellus, known. for many
wears as an active advocate of the use
of music as n healing agent. gave a
lecture before the Society of Musical
Therapeutics. of which she is president,
on the subject OF the advancement
of Musical Therapeutics" illustrated by
musical tests Upon the action of the
pulse.
The meeting was neld in the club
rooms at No. 81 West Thirty-seventh
siscst, and a large audience. apo
OF members OF the society as well as a
goodly percentage OF physicians-chieily
aiicIIsls-sIlOweu mtch interest Ia Tue
ak and accompany ing tests.
ETec Long Noted.
Although tic effect of music upon the
mind and emotions has long been noted.
vet IL is of comparatively recent date
that physicians and allenists have rec
oenizcd music as an agency for the
cure of the mind. As Il result of var
ious experiments along this line. the So
riety of Musical Therapeutics was es-
tablishcd a little over IA year ago.
Among Its members and stanch sup
pcrters are now numbered many of the
men who stand at the head of the medi-
cal profession and whose names are
widely known.
Active H. the society are Miss Flor.
cncc Guernsey. daughter Of the late Or.
Egbert Guernsey. who was one OF the
original fountIers OF the society, the
Rev. John Harrington Edwards, DIR. j.
Thornton Sibley.. Or. j. Mount. Bleier,
Mrs. j. a. CozzinO, rMs. Charles Ed
mund Wark and Miss George ]. S. An
drews.
The object of the society is the study
and advancement OF music in its rcla-
tion to life and health. and to promote
the intelligent employment OF music in
home OF the sick and in hospitals and
asylums.
incidentally. the society is aiming to
place itself on a sound financial working
basis, so that the best professional
musical talent may be engaged to carry
on the work In hospitals. sanitariums
and homes.
Miss Nescelius has for several years
carried out this plan in private practice.
engaging such professional talent as
she found necessary to assist her In the
work. She is herself Y Unknown as a
contralto singer and teacher of ability.
OF late years, however. she has given
her time entirely to an extensive prac-
tice of music as a remedial agent.
To an Evening World reporter, prior
TO the opening Of the programme Satur-
day evening. Miss Vescelius said: ALL
though little has been stated publicly
as vet, of the use of music as a healing
power. yet II Is surprising to learn how
many persons privately employ this
means AS a remedy to diseased minds"
Many Families Interested.
DO YOU find a sufficient number of
families interested in this treatment
To keep you busy, Miss Vcscelius? ?"
My time has been completely filled
for several years with the work" she
answered.
YES, naturally. the people of means
are those first Interested In a matter
of this kind. for the expense of pursu-
ing the treatment Is necessarily con-
siderable"
Your patients probably are among
those suffering from nervous prostra-
ton. depression, chronic invalids and
cases Of that description"
Somewhat, but
Mental troubles are more frequent"
Infinitely more. The very rich often
o. 6fn not m EarG TO SSn fnd the mentailS al,
from home.
I'm nlne-tenths of the Fifth avenue
residences there is some back room de-
voted to the use of a solitary inmate
Of whose existence the world knows
nothing
Thrilling words, these! yet sincerity
rang in the speakers tones and showed
in her earnest face.
Expense is not spared to make the
lives of these unfortunate ones as tran
gull as may be- she went on.
There Is plenty Of work of this ma
ture for the right kline of person. but II
of necessity requires tho greatest tact.
sympathy. intuitive faculties and under
standing Of the subject and the psyche
logical influence OF music.
Not a Cure-AII.
Don't misunderstood me- she con-
tinued. Tn not such a crank as to be-
lieve, music a cnre-all. regard IL
simply as a most important adjunct in
the treatment, of certain cases"
Miss Ncscelius opened the exercises
with a twenty-minute talk. in the course
Of which she said:
" Musical treatment antagonizes no
system of cure. Its domain is as q twl-
light mediator hetween all schools. II
often proves more potent than the
strongest sedatlyes, with the added in
II aids surgery. with it's harmonizing VI
bratory waves relieving congestion and
reducing inflammation.
TN mental suggestion the specialist in
hypnosis has already SUCCESSFULLY test
ed Its power. 1t exercises a beneficial
h|h'A Wv w "a vi III 1
studied and in~telliGently employed.
when musicians will prepare them
selves for this department of their pro
fession the days Of the spasmodic, ham,
Ia zard misuse of this healing power
will have passed, and the ministry of
music for health and healing will be
recognized and indorsed by those hay-
Ing the interests OF hospitals, asyI,ims
and prisons in charge" H.
After the lecture there was n musical
programme, during which tho audiences
was invited to mako personal tests OF
the effect Of different kinds of music
upon the action of the pulse.
Music said Miss Vescelius." greatest
states of mind which are telegraphed to
nerve centres and circulatorv system,
thus accelerating or retarding the action
of the pulse"
Public Test Made.
For a general calculation of the sub
ject DIR. j. thornton Sibley made a p,ib-
lie test of the action of the music uhnon
the pulse of Miss George /. s. An
drews.
THE music was divided into three num-
bers OF a q~uieting influence and three nf
a stimulating character. to show how,
the heart action. can be quickened by
the effect oil. music. ~
Miss Anna Jewell was the pianist.
Mira. L v. Sheldon, soprano; Miss Jean