Unpublished letter, regarding the medicinal powers of music from Thom [Thomas] Peirce to Mr [Richard] Kirwan

Description

Peirce provides several accounts from the period 1778-1787 of the positive effects of music on medical conditions. He includes anecdotes of cases of delirium and fits where symptoms were relieved on the patient hearing live music played in major keys on a violin or a cello. Peirce includes musical notation in some cases to illustrate exactly the notes he played for patients and he explains the tuning of his instruments in different situations. Corrections appear in ink throughout.

An ink inscription last page verso reads 'Addressd to Mr Kirwan and delivered by him to me'.

Subject: Medicine / Music

Written by Peirce at Bridge Town [Bridgetown, Barbados].

Reference number

AP/5/23

Earliest possible date

06 March 1787

Physical description

Ink on paper

Page extent

32 pages

Format

Manuscript