# The Mysterious Dancing Plague of 1518: A Historical Enigma
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In July 1518, on a sweltering summer day, a woman named Frau Troffea from Strasbourg began to dance uncontrollably. This occurred without any accompanying music, amusing her neighbors but frustrating her husband.
Troffea continued her relentless dancing for six consecutive days, surprising the citizens of Strasbourg, as she appeared unable to stop despite her exhaustion and physical pain. Her bizarre behavior attracted at least thirty more individuals to join her within a week, leading to a chaotic scene where many danced until they collapsed from sheer fatigue.
This event is now famously referred to as the "Dancing Plague of 1518." Although not the first instance of mass dancing mania in Europe, it remains the most notable. The frenzy persisted until September of that year, drawing in hundreds of participants at its peak.
But what compelled these individuals to dance until they could no longer stand? Was this a form of illness? How did the local authorities respond to the escalating situation?
The Dancing Plague of 1518
Historical accounts indicate that Frau Troffea was the initial instigator of this unusual dance party, although she found no joy in it. She would rest briefly before resuming her dance, leading to injuries on her feet.
The fate of Frau Troffea remains unknown, but her actions sparked a wave of similar behavior among the citizens of Strasbourg, who were in severe distress and continuously begged for relief from their inexplicable affliction.
Recognizing the urgent need to address the situation, the city council consulted medical professionals. After dismissing supernatural explanations, the physicians attributed the bizarre behavior to a condition they termed "hot blood."
In medieval times, this diagnosis suggested that an imbalance in bodily fluids could lead to overheating and, if untreated, potentially drive a person to madness. The common treatment for this supposed ailment was bloodletting, where a vein would be opened to drain the "impure blood." However, given that the afflicted individuals were incapable of ceasing their dancing, doctors recommended that they should continue dancing to relieve their condition. The city even hired musicians to facilitate this misguided treatment.
Unfortunately, this strategy only exacerbated the problem. Unbeknownst to passersby, the dance was a supposed remedy for a disease, and they too began to join in the chaotic revelry.
As the situation spiraled out of control, the city council reconsidered their initial diagnosis. Perhaps this was divine retribution for the sins of the populace? In an attempt to purify the city, authorities shut down brothels and gambling houses, hoping this would quell the dancing.
Yet, the frenzy persisted.
The city then resorted to banning dancing and music altogether. While string instruments were allowed at weddings, drums and trumpets were prohibited, and any offender caught dancing faced fines. Nonetheless, this legal action did little to deter those caught in the throes of involuntary movement.
The dance continued, leading to numerous fatalities from exhaustion. Reports indicated that as many as 15 individuals died daily, likely from heart attacks or severe fatigue.
This peculiar outbreak of dancing madness came to an abrupt end in September 1518.
Exploring the Causes Behind the Dancing Plague
What could explain this strange phenomenon?
The prevailing explanations from the 16th century were varied. Notably, physician Paracelsus, who came to Strasbourg after the events, conducted a post-mortem analysis. Renowned for his belief in observing symptoms alongside traditional methods, Paracelsus is often called the “Father of Modern Toxicology.”
Rejecting the idea that divine punishment caused the dancing mania, he posited the existence of "laughing veins" in the body that could trigger an uncontrollable urge to move. Paracelsus further suggested that the affliction primarily affected those considered immoral, such as prostitutes and musicians, a classic case of scapegoating. Additionally, he theorized that the mania could spread through the power of imagination.
However, modern theories have since emerged to explain the dancing plague. One such explanation involves food poisoning, with some scientists attributing the outbreak to ergot, a fungus that affects rye. This could have contaminated bread consumed by the townspeople, resulting in convulsions that manifested as spontaneous dancing.
Despite this, the food poisoning theory has significant shortcomings. Those suffering from food poisoning typically exhibit symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, which were not reported among the dancers. Furthermore, individuals afflicted with ergot poisoning often become immobile for extended periods, undermining this theory's credibility.
Most researchers refute the food poisoning hypothesis. A more plausible explanation for the 1518 dancing plague is mass hysteria, triggered by prolonged periods of stress and despair.
Between 1492 and 1511, Strasbourg experienced four major famines, leading to widespread malnutrition and death. The situation worsened in 1517 when famine returned, followed by an outbreak of smallpox in early 1518, further straining the city's resources and overwhelming orphanages. Given these dire circumstances, it is understandable that the population was primed for a case of mass hysteria.
The evidence supporting this conclusion lies in the eventual cure.
The Cure
In an effort to bring relief, authorities transported the exhausted dancers to a shrine dedicated to St. Vitus, a martyr who met a gruesome end at the hands of Roman Emperor Diocletian in 303 AD. Legend claims that an angel intervened, allowing him to emerge unscathed from his torment. St. Vitus became known as a healer of epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
The dancers collapsed before the altar of St. Vitus, and after a mass led by a priest, they were given red shoes purportedly “blessed with holy oil.” Remarkably, this seemed to quell the dancing frenzy.
The combination of the stressors leading up to the plague and the rapid resolution upon receiving the “holy red shoes” indicates that the afflicted individuals were likely experiencing mass hysteria.
The incident has since been referred to as St. Vitus’ dance, as many believed they were freed from a curse through his intercession.
The 1518 dancing mania was not the first of its kind in history. A similar episode occurred in the 14th century in Aachen, where the townspeople believed they were possessed by demons.
Although mass hysteria remains one of the theories explaining the dancing phenomenon, a definitive scientific consensus regarding its cause has yet to be established.
The dancing mania is just one of many peculiar occurrences from the Middle Ages, a time when people enjoyed risqué humor and conceived bizarre creatures, much like today.
For those interested in more intriguing historical tales, consider exploring the following story.
Sources
- Donaldson LJ, Cavanagh J, Rankin J (July 1997). “The dancing plague: a public health conundrum.” Public Health.
- Waller, John (2008). A Time to Dance, A Time to Die. Icon Books.