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In July 1518 a woman began dancing in the streets of Strasbourg and could not stop. Within a month around 400 people had joined her, some dancing until they dropped. Nobody has fully explained it.

The Dancing Plague, Strasbourg 1518

Why it matters

The idea in context

The city's records are clear that it happened; physicians of the day concluded it was 'hot blood' and — disastrously — prescribed more dancing, hiring musicians and clearing halls. Explanations since have included ergot poisoning from mouldy rye and mass psychogenic illness brought on by famine, disease and dread. The second fits better: the region had endured years of hunger and plague, and stress-driven outbreaks of this kind are documented elsewhere. It is a reminder that the mind can produce physical epidemics.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Temmuz 1518'de bir kadın Strazburg sokaklarında dans etmeye başladı ve duramadı. Bir ay içinde yaklaşık 400 kişi ona katıldı, kimileri düşene dek dans etti. Kimse bunu tam olarak açıklayamadı.

Dans Salgını, Strazburg 1518

Kentin kayıtları olayın yaşandığı konusunda açık; dönemin hekimleri bunu 'sıcak kan'a bağladı ve — felaket biçimde — daha fazla dans önerdi, müzisyen tutup salonlar boşalttı. O günden bu yana açıklamalar arasında küflü çavdardan ergot zehirlenmesi ve kıtlık, hastalık ve dehşetin getirdiği kitlesel psikojenik hastalık var. İkincisi daha iyi oturuyor: Bölge yıllarca açlık ve veba yaşamıştı ve bu türden stres kaynaklı salgınlar başka yerlerde de belgelenmiştir. Zihnin fiziksel salgınlar üretebileceğini hatırlatır.

Source trail

Read beyond the card.

Background reading: Dancing plague of 1518Attribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.

Open in the iPhone app Editorial method

Next in the open archiveAfter a munitions ship exploded in Halifax harbour in 1917, Boston sent doctors and supplies overnight. Nova Scotia has sent Boston a Christmas tree nearly every year since.Q1582

In July 1518 a woman began dancing in the streets of Strasbourg and could not stop. Within a month around 400 people had joined her, some dancing until they dropped. Nobody has fully explained it.

The idea in context

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Read beyond the card.

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