The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-05
EFFECrs OF MUSIC.
Marvellous Results in Bosson Hespitals
 Where Concerts are Provided.


 Marvellous Results in Bosson Hsspitaia
 Where Concerts are Provided. Boston Herald
 That music has extraordinary pow. CTS as a relief and even as a cure for mental and physical suffering. Is the belief of Dr. John Dixwell. confirmed by his long experience in the .charit- able work of furnishing suitable music to Boston hospitals.
 For ten years Dr. Dixwell has conz ducted his unique concerts. and the great success of the work has justified both the time and money expended. Last year forty-seven concerts were given at forty-seven different hospit- als and other institutions. The best of professionals were employed. and most of the performances were super intended personally by the doctor him. self
 There is great need of guiding hand in such work, he says. for music. taken as a medicine. needs to be administered by some one who understands how large a dose a patient requires.
 Tt often acts as a tonic," says Dr. Dixwell, land too much of 1t might do & great deal of harm. The best rnu- sic, carefully selected, Is always sure to have a soothing, quieting ana en- tirely beneficial effect on the patients. "HdtcNeT dllInCntb may w. ~ must be the best. and 1t must not be depressing or doleful.
 "The popular idea of singing Psalm tunes and hymns to sick people Is the most hateful thing that was ever in- vented Such music makes the patient feel that every one has given him up. He loses hope and courage, and has much less chance of recovery. I have no objection to religious music. but At H..t 1 Atrt not good for sick people.
 "The main thing is to prevent intro- spection. People in hospitals have too much time in which to think of them selves, their pains. how much worse these pains may become. what terri ble things may happen. and how long 1t will take them to get we'll If their minds can be turned aside from this dismal trend of thought, they are in much better condition for recovery And this is what makes music such valuable factor in hospitals.
 One case that especially remem- Der was that of an Italian, who was dangerously Ill. We were giving a concert in the ward out of which his door opened, and he asked that the door might be left ajar so he could listen to the music. Several operatic selections were given and the sick man listened with growing interest when 1t was over he asked if I would come in and speak to him. Doctor he said, had made up my mind to die, but now I know that I shall get we'll . And he did" stated Dr. Dixweii. with a pardonable satisfaction in this proof of his convictions.
 ''Then you think that music merely influences the thoughts of the patients. that there Is no direct physical effectT the doctor was asked.
 ''Who can separate the mind from the body?' he counter questioned with thoughtful smile. Surely no physi- elan has ever been able to do 1t. The soul itself Is thought to be a tiny grain of matter in the center of the brain, which, when analysed. resolves itself into the universal element salt. In New York physicians are tfytng> to re- duce the effects of music to an exact science By means of the sphygmo- graph they note the quiokening or quieting of the pulse when the differ ent styles of music are played, and by this and making compari- sons with other experiments, they hope to arrive at some scientific results"
 Dr. Dixwell has not gone deeply in- to scientific research in the matter, but is satisfied that his experience gives him an absolute knowledge of his sub feet