HISTORICAL SKETCH 



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a third says some voices resist, and others, less solid, suffer 

 from their influence. 



Dr. Faiivel, the specialist for throat complaints, has, it 

 appears, advised the directors of the Opera not to alloAv 

 bouquets of any kind to be put in the dressing-room of the 

 sino^ers. A well-known teacher is so well aware of the eftects 

 of floral scents that, by his advice, she insists upon her pupils 

 having nothing to do with flowers or perfumes while receiv- 

 ing singing lessons. He remembers Marie Sass singing once 

 at Baron Eothschild's, and savouring with delight a splendid 

 bouquet of Parma Violets. After this she could not produce 

 a note. He has a theory as to the cause — a vibratory struggle 

 between the sound-waves and odour-waves. Dr. Gougen- 

 heim, whilst admitting the fact, has no explanation to give. 

 He is a professor at the Conservatoire as well as hospital 

 physician, and has treated the subject in his lessons, but 

 asserts that no scientific explanation has ever been given. 

 The phenomenon is probably a nervous one. 



It is suggested that a great percentage of the headaches, 

 colds in the head, and the like ailments from which people, 

 especially the fair sex, suff'er on the morning after attending 

 a ball, dinner-party, or other social function, is a direct result 

 of the odours of the floral decorations. This will at least 

 be useful in supplying a new excuse to the man who wakes 

 up in the morning with ^ a head.' 



We would all willingly wed such lovely things as flowers 

 and music, and it is sad if they are enemies. 



In regard to the species of plants with scented attractions, 

 a French authority has had the curiosity to inquire into the 

 subject, with the following result: 'About 4200 species of 

 plants are utilised for various purposes in Europe ; of these 

 only about one-tenth have an agreeable perfume, the others 



