There were 10 outbreaks of the dancing plague, between the 14th century and the 16th century. The dancing plague made those infected literally dance until they drop.

the best example is the case of Frau Troffea. It started when she began dancing in the streets for no apparent reason, but she could not stop it. Soon a small crowd gathered around, staring. People back then thought it was a supernatural compelling that forced her to dance. This was not the case, however.

Soon, more people began to dance. They could not stop, and they seemed distressed and exhausted. Soon a diagnosis came in. Experts back then suggested it was “overheated blood” and they had to dance until the blood was no longer under affliction. This, however, was not the case either. The town leaders began setting up stages and music to speed up their dancing, and get it over with. However, this drew in a larger crowd. Soon, hundreds began dancing helplessly in the streets. 15 people actually died because of it, but similarly to Covid-19 today, the fatal cases usually already had heart or lung complications to begin with.


Around 400 had died from the dancing before the town leaders began to reverse their course of actions. They tore down the stages and banned music and dancing. Those who couldn’t physically obey these new laws were taken away to shrines. The town calmed down.

Eventually a new diagnosis arose, given by Renaissance physician Paracelsus. It wasn’t supernatural influence, but phycological.

The most accepted answer to this hysterical history, is that the stress from the previous, deadly bubonic plague and the superstition likely caused the “dancing fever” ordeal. In a nutshell, it was a deadly form of anxiety disorder caused by major continental trauma.


Sources:

https://www.history.com/.amp/news/what-was-the-dancing-plague-of-1518
Accessed on 03/09/2022 at 4:30 EST USA Time Zone

Learn more:
https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/the-dancing-plague-of-1518
Accessed on 03/09/2022 at 4:35 EST USA Time Zone