Unknown Woman and Black Dog by J.P. Vail, ca. 1875
The Washington Times reports:
A recent study in the journal "Psychosomatic Medicine" found that dogs
are more effective than the antidepressant Prozac in reducing stress,
lowering blood pressure, slowing heart rate, and relaxing muscles much
more rapidly than pills. (full article)
are more effective than the antidepressant Prozac in reducing stress,
lowering blood pressure, slowing heart rate, and relaxing muscles much
more rapidly than pills. (full article)
I found some vintage dog photos from the George Eastman House flickr photostream to illustrate the study's further findings, from a time before Prozac…
"Dogs can accomplish [stress reduction] by just being close to a person for
as little as five minutes, while prescription medications can take
weeks to work." (Photo by William M. Vander Weyde, 1898.)
"Elderly persons who have dogs are four times less likely to get depression."
(Photographer unknown, ca. 1915)
Dogs are better than Ritalin. OK, I made that up.
(Photo by C.C. Smith, 1880)
"The data is absolutely unambiguous. [Dogs] actually works better than having a loved one next to you."
(Photo by Barke, 1890)
I would love to know the story behind this last photograph. If anyone has any ideas, please leave a comment.