Show POWERS OF physicians SOUNDS WOULD CURE effect on rhilip philip of in egypt certain songs were used to promote in the young fount stories about famous Ial claus IM powerful influence of music oi ob our intellectual faculties and consequently consee e on our health has long been ascertained either in raising the energies of 0 the mind or producing despondency and melancholy melon choly assoria eions of ideas says the Fi fireside rIde impressed with its sublime nature the ancients gave it a divine origin mod ous tells us that it wa was a boon on be bc slewed on mankind after the deluge and owed its discovery to the sound produced by the wind when whistling through the reeds that grew on the banks banka of tho the nile this science be ba cline the early study of philosophers and physicians Her ophilus explained alie he alterations of the pulse by the various modes and rhythms of music la in the sacred writings we have many in ri of its influence the derangement of saul yielded to the harp of daila and the hand of the lord canie came upon ellsha hs as the minstrel played placed in egypt certain songs were legally ordained in khz education of youth to promote virtue virttie and morality polybius Poly blus assures us that music WM x to soften the manners of the th arcadians Arcadi lans ans whose climate was heavy and impure while the inhabitants of of Cy who neglected this science were the most barbarous in greece the medical power ol of harmonious was also fully admitted Ws we find pythagoras directing certain menta tal disorders to be treated by music thales was said to have even cured a disastrous pestilence by its means martinus Martl nus capella affirms that fevers were thus removed Xeno crates was credited with curing maniacs by b y melodious sounds and de deafness aaness with a trumpet in modern times it has bas been related of a deaf lady that bhe he could only hear while a drum was beating and a drummer was kept in her house for the purpose of enabling her to converse aulus gelcius tells us its that a case of sciatica was cured by modulations and Theoph rastus maintains that the bites of serpents and other venomous reptiles can be re rei i lieveld by similar means ancient physicians who attributed many dis dia cases ases to the influence of evil spirits fancied that harmonious sounds drove them away more especially when accompanied compa comp nied by incantations and we find in luther that music is one of the most beautiful and glorious gifts ot of god to which satan is a bitter enemy in more modern times we have several instances of the medical medical powers of music the effect produced by farinelli on philip of spain is well known this monarch was in such a deplorable state of despondency from ill health that he refused to be shaved or to appear in public on the arrival of farinelli inelli the queen was resolved to try the power of music and a concert was ordered in a room adjoining the kings chamber farinelli Fari nelll sung two of his best airs which so overcame philip that he desired he might be brought into his presence when he promised to grant rant him any reasonable request he night might make the performer in the most anost respectful manner then begged the king to allow himself to be shaved and attended by his domestics domestico to which philip consented farinelli Fari nelll continued to sing to him daily until a por per feet cure was effected the story of hartful bartini is rather curious in a moment if musical enthusiasm he fell asleep when the devil was said to have appeared to him playing on the violin bidding him with a horrible grin to play as well as he did struck with the vision the musician awoke ran to his harpsichord and produced a splendid bruckman Bruc kroan and hufeland Hut eland relate cases of st vitus dance cured by music which according to deses carts also was reported to have relieved catalepsy schneider and becker backer have ascertained its influence in hysteria and affections A singular effect of music is related by roger in the case of a poor dietch broken upon the wheel ln in his agonies he screamed in the most feni tal manner some itinerant musicians music lana chanced to pass by they were sto stopped ped and nd requested to play to the sufferer when to the surprise of all around he seemed relieved and became so tranquil that he confessed his manifold offenses and died according to the tale talc with cal calm lm resignation it seeing seems more likely th that at the man lost consciousness ness owing to the horrible torture inflicted |