Curtis (34) conducted an empirical study to evaluate the effects of music on pain relief and relaxation of patients with a terminal illness. Five females and four males diagnosed with a terminal illness were included in the study. The experimental conditions implemented were as follows: (A) no intervention, subjects did not receive music therapy; (B) background sound, subjects were instructed to relax while listening to a 15-min tape of hospital sounds; and (C) music, subjects were instructed to relax while listening to a 15-min tape of calm, preferred instrumental music. These conditions were implemented twice daily for 10 days, and subjects were randomly assigned to one of two orders of experimental conditions in this alternating treatments design: ABACA (n = 5) and ACABA (n = 4). Subjects self-rated the four dependent variables (pain relief, physical comfort, contentment and relaxation) using a modified graphic rating scale. Although statistical analysis (Friedman two-way analysis of variance) indicated no significant differences in the dependent variables under the different treatment conditions, a graphic analysis of individual responses indicated that music may have been effective. The researcher suggested that replication of the study with a larger number of subjects and longer duration would allow for results to be generalized.