Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-01-12
MUSIC AS A MEDICINE.

MUSIC AS A MEDICINE.
Demonstration Of the Therapeutic Value o|
Sweet Sounds.
The value of music as therapeutic
agent was scientifically demonstrated
at the home of DR.. Francis S. Ken.
nedy, of Brooklyn. Variations of from
fifteen to twenty-five beats per minute
in the pulse of subjects under con-
trasting influences, such as selections
from the Tannhauser overture and
Leybach's fifth nocturne, furnished
abundant proof that under certain
conditions melodies and harmonies
furnish a satisfactory substitute for
drugs. when applied as tonics, stimu-
lants, sedatives or narcotics.
The experiment was conducted by
DR.. Kennedy, and is in line with q
long series of Investigations that have
occupied his leisure hours for some
time past.
Twenty trained nurses from the diff.
ferent hospitals in the city were invit.
ed to attend a musical recital at DR..
Kennedy's home.
Nurses were selected because the
operations Of taking tho pulse is with
them an every day matter, and it was
not likely that the condition of their
own pulse would be affected by having
it taken. The subjects were taken at
random, but a careful record of their
relation to music in general and their
physical characteristics was kept.
DR.. Kennedy presided at the me-
chanical piano player by which the
music was produced. To get the
heart beats of his subjects down to
normal, and to put them into proper
mental and physical condition he first
gave them Annie Laurie"
annie Laurie" was followed by the
Tannh@user overture with orchestral
arrangement. With the piano player
tremendous volume OF sound 10 posi-.
BILE. The contrast between the swell.
ing notes of the march that mark the
climax OF the latter half OF the over
ture and the final dimuendos of the
p" Pilgrims Chorus" was marked. The
effect upon the subjects was equally
prominent. Nearly every one respond.
ed to Wagner's harmonies with much
more rapid pulse increase, ranging
from ten to twenty-five beats per
minute. One young woman whose
pulsations, run way up into tho nine.
ties confessed afterward that the Tam
haenser overture was her favorite selec.
tion.
Two records were kept, one of the
pulse beats and one OF blood pressure.
The latter record permitted the in.
teresting conclusion that listening to
q favorite selection may produce the
effect OF relaxation on one person
while it stimulates the heart action of
another. This is alluded to ae indi-
eating that just as careful study of q
patient is as necessary before prescrib.
ing musical remedies as should pre-.
cede the writing out of a prescription.
Tehalowsky's Meditation" quiet,
restful number, followed the overture.
There was q general response among
the hearers manifested by diminished
blood pressure and slower pulse beats.
That is, with one exception. There
was one young woman whose pulse
went away above the high water mark
fixed by the Tannheuser selection as
she listened to the soothing strains
of the Russian composer. The cir
cumstance leaves an interesting field
for speculation as to what mental as
sociations might have been responsible
for this unusual contrast effect.
After sevaral other selections, in
cluding the Angels Serenade," dur
ing which the effects observed were
decidedly at variance. DR.. Kennedy
played Leybach's Fifth nocturne. Here
again the result was remarkable in
that there was scarcely an exception
to the decided character of the re.
sponse. The harmonies in this mum.
ber are woven about a pretty melody,
nonintrusive in character. The effect
of the whole number was most sooth.
ing. The pulse beats went down to
the lowest ebb, away below normal, in
the majority of cases. testifying to the
appreciation of the musical effect.
LADY" But you promised to cut
some wood"
Weary" Ma'sm, l told you I was
union man, an I jest noticed dat dat
AZ was made by a::factory wot employs
non. union labor"
DON'T hitch on too big sinker.