Show healing value of music established f by tests held under federal auspices alspie Aus pipes s the fact that music is a cultural force of great potency has been accepted for many centuries by every nation recently however music has been acknowledged by physicians as a therapeutic agent of considerable sid erable importance accomplishing a curative effect where medicine and science have failed theories as to its healing value have been advanced from time to time but recently a definite statement to that effect based on experiments was made by the federal music project of new york writes alice eversman in the washington star for three years the federal music project has been holding classes in two prisons tor for women and in seven hospitals where over people were subjected to a musical treatment and the results studied and classified As yet the experiments have not led to a positive formula for treatment but the results have been sufficiently gratifying tor for further planning along this line what has been definitely established is that participation in music activity by problem cases and underprivileged children has benefited them phys ghys icalla and morally more than anything else music serves to tree free self concentration to distract the mind from too much inward centering and to arouse the finer reaction such as politeness better behavior and care of personal ap appearance pe arance As the effect of music continues an entire change in the attitude toward 4 life and in conduct has been ob served it has also been found thaL listen ing to music is not sufficient and many times serves only to increase the difficulties since it does not draw on the mental processes of the patients although its quieting effect on the nervous system is considerable sid erable but performing music is a decided stimulus for good bringing the afflicted ones out of their absorption absorb tion with self and substituting a more spiritual occupation which benefits the physical well being E experiments A peri ments have been tried on the children of the psychiatric ward of bellevue hospital in the reformatories among cripples and children of low mentality the result in each case has proven that music can reach and heal where other methods have failed |