Music has been used against pain for centuries not only by musicians and physicians, but by the people. We find this practice referred to in a letter from Maria Cosway to Thomas Jefferson concerning his recently sprained wrist:
“I wish you were well enough to come to us tomorrow.... I would divert your pain with good music[12].”
In 1915 two surgeons named Burdick and Kane used music as a diversion during local anesthesia. They ascertained the musical preference of the patient prior to operation and played recorded music in muffled tones during the operation. Later they played music in an adjacent room while general anesthesia was being induced and found that it was accomplished with less resistance[32]. Since that time other surgeons have used music for similar purposes. There are some operations which are done under local anesthesia and are prolonged. The absence of sounds other than awe-inspiring whispers, or the presence of technical talk may cause the patient unnecessary alarm.
The use of well selected music or a good radio program may be of great benefit in the operating room. Its value will depend upon the operating surgeon and how well he can operate while music is being played. There are times during an operation when delicate maneuvers become trying and the wrong music or increased volume might lead to exasperation. One advocate of music in the operating room has called it a “psychic anesthetic”[53].
The use of local anesthetics in dentistry has made possible the painless extraction of teeth. Most dentists, however, do not inject local anesthetics before drilling cavities. For many people, drilling is a frightful experience. Some dentists have advocated the playing of music at a loud level during this procedure. Still another has incorporated ear-phones into the head rest of the dental chair for diversional sound.
A more obvious use of diversional sound in the professional office is in the reception or waiting room to supplement the magazines and diminish the terror of waiting. Music may also be used during such time-consuming treatment as physical therapy, deep x-ray therapy, and fever-therapy.
Physical Exercise
Some forms of physical exercise are carried out most successfully when accompanied by music. Plato recommended such a practice in his Republic. In the ancient triremes or boats with three banks of oars, there was always a tibicen or flute player, not only to keep uniform rhythm among the workmen, but to sooth and cheer them. From this custom Quintillian took occasion to say that music enables us more patiently to support toil and labor[15].
During the Six-Day Bicycle Race at the Madison Square Garden in 1911 forty-six mile races were separately timed on three evenings; half were ridden to music. The average time with music was 19.6 miles per hour, and without it only 17.9[5].
Tarchanoff found that