Evening star., 1923-08-26
HAY FEVER CURE
IN MUSIC CLAIMED
Other Ills Can Be Remedied
BY Classic Melodies, Says
/ Baltimore VioIinist.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

the peabody Conservatory OIL MUSIC,
as a cure for hay fever, and persons
suffering major ailments. continued
Mr.. Bornschein. may find panacea in
tone and melody.
Mr.. Bornschein's idea of the
Stherapeutical value of music are
somewhat akin to those of william
Van De Wall, Dutch musician.
criminologist and sociologist. who
last June gave a demonstration of
musical therapy" in the treatment of
cases of insanity and delinquency at
Spring Grove Hospital for Insane
here.
Mr.. Bornschein himself is a hay
fever victim and during the last year
has been experimenting in his studio
IN an effort to discover remedy for
the malady. Each year. about August
II, he said. hay fever grips him. But
he believes he has conquered 1t
through the curative power of musical
auto. suggestion.
In his studio Uttered with finished
and semi completed manuscripts. Mr..
Bornschein told of remedies for some
or the more prevalent ailments. He
sincerely believes in his deductions.
NOT only the music but the name OF
a curative value, he said, or must in
icite the mind to wander from the in
hrmtties.
Cites SPECIFIC Melodies.
Cures for hay fever, he said. might
be Handels Water Music or the
'Damnation of Faust" by List; The
very names of these. he said. are
enough to loosen the cause of the
disease. The melodies will serve to
dispel the ailment with concentra-
tion upon them and the titles. Tor,
ments of sunburn may be alleviated
by listening to SibeliuS' "Finlandia.
This will picture to the mind north
ern climes and cool atmospheres. the
1872 Overture" of Tschaikowsky
tifs of Czerny's velocity studies Will
chase all imaginary ailments from
the minds of hypochondiacs.
for this. Those suffering from neu.
ritis. Mr. Bornschein said: should
listen to Leybach's Fifth Nocturne'
or the adagio movement of Dvorak
New York symphony" For melan-
cholia he suggested strauss Wine.
, Woman and Song" or Frimfs High
.Tinks." The blues, he said. can be
chased away by Rubinstein's KAN
menostro," or Sousa's "El Captain"
Vibrations Effect Cure.
"The unusual receptivity of the
ear Is not quite understood by medi-
cal authorities" Mr.. Bornschein said.
THE sensitive auditory organ re-
spends to vibrations of the power Of
music. To the average listener jazz
causes excitement, whereas to the
zion becomes horrible irritant.
iWithoutS giving a learned disserta-
'tion on the vibration intensity and
element of suggestion, it can be
tested even by a layman to prove
the curative power of music is
notable.
"It has been found that a gray
cat-and the example is provable--
will awaken from its nap in apparent
distress when certain high tones are
sung in a room. This proves the
projection of piercing vibrational
force. The same cat has been known
to wander all through the house fol-
lowing the soloist when lullaby is
action has been tested by melodies on
the piano, the tones Of the violin,
we find the general receptivity of this
animal is but crude example of the
claim of my contention.
Tests Definite.
More definite tests of the curative
value of musical sound could be
enumerated by many studio expert
msnts. The vibrati force of music
seems to have the effect upon the
senses as does violet ray upon the
texture of the skin.
las feeling and imagination are
allied and are conducive Of any ming
ling of thought with sensation such
as musical tone effects. 1t does not
require trained psychologist to rec
ognize the curative powers of music.
ITO classify what can be termed
"ause and effect of musical vibration
only simple illustrations need be
audience will feel lingering warmth
listening to a contralto voice. Re-
Spiratory action may be quickened
~ the frictional quality of the string
IF fnli in Tha
cello tone Will induce restfulness
and lead to a reverie. The blatant
tang of the trumpet may pain as IL
experiencing a sharp knife wound.
cause some temperaments to react as
in the presence of drab disaster,
while other types will get from this
soft tone the sensation Of somnam-
bulistic wandering
The plucking of harp stringS to
the lay ear invites ethereal eleva-
Nions: to the professional musician,
however, the twanging causes nausea.
Along with this idiosyncracy of tone
values is the evidence Of personal
preference for instruments. who
these days wants to submit to the
tortures of the old-fashioned melo-
dion? The drawl of the organ tones
is not to be. commercialized; its eff
fectiveness Is purely ecclesiastical.
When heard in other surroundings a
sensitive listener may note the mega
tive reactions.
Raps Saxophone.
1.-THE present day craze for muted
trumpets, as heard in the jazz bands.
is only q Psychological aftermath and
makes 1aded feeling alive as If tabas-
CO sauce were added to a milk diet.
The everlasting snarling saxophone
seems to have supplied youth and old
age with a comingling Of sloppy
sentimentality. Musically, this is
due to the reedy reverberations
observations prove the average
concert audience goes to the concert
not so much to hear the music. but be-
cause II is either physically or men,
tally indisposed and seeks a panacea.
This Is subconscious, but true. How
does music serve as a panacea to this
indisposition? Glance over the audi
ence as the concert proceeds. There
may be yawns, glowing conversation.
utter boredom or nervous excitement,
all of which are outward indications
of musical reaction. But at some
time during the program these same
people will be calmed.
"A Brahms symphony may give the
impression that the temperature of
the hall Is frigid, while others might
find this same piece causing a throb-
bing pulse. A dashing valse by Strauss
will do more to correct the blues of
the tired business man than visit to
"De Bussy's Afternoon OF the
Fawn.' with it's verdant pleasantly,
may induce a hay fever sufferer to
sniff1e, due to suggestion of pipes
the man whose lumbago seems trou-
blesome, ponderous work of Max
heger will cause deeper groans A
better thing for him would be to hear
oscar Strauss MY Hero from The
Chocolate Soldier" .~.,,.. ..