Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1887 — Music's Power Over Idiots. [ARTICLE]

Music's Power Over Idiots.

It has been stated that idiots appear to most advantage when under the influence of music, and that there are very few cases which are unaffected thereby. Thus we are told how a new life is infused into these unfortunate persons by the harmony of sweet sounds; “all exhibit pleasure; some move their bodit s in time to the air which is played, others sing after their own fashion; some even of the most torpid, when looking on for some time as some of their less apathetic companions dance, suddenly become animated, start up and dance in the;r own way.” Mr. Plott, in his “History of Staffordshire,” relates the case of an idiot who chanced to live within the sound of a clock, and always amused himself with counting the hour of the day whenever the clock struck. The clock being spoiled by ac. ident, . the idiot continued to strike and count the hour without the help of it, in the same manner he had done when it was entire. Indeed, in mental cases music from the earliest period has been considered highly efficacious, and it is how both Pythagoras and cured maniacs by melodious sounds. Coming down to modern times, much, has been written on the subject, and experiments of various kinds made with more or less success.—Gentleman’s Magazine.