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When you see a lot of people dancing in a crowd, you must have thought the mob was part of a flashmob army that was carrying out its secret mission - whether it was for political campaigns, product advertisements, to the surprise of the idol's heart.
But maybe not many know that the flashmob sensation is inspired by a strange incident that struck Strasbourg, a small city in France, in 1518. Instead of being a folk entertainment, this one "flashmob" phenomenon actually made many people down met his death after dancing without cause. This phenomenon is referred to as The Dancing Plague.
The Dancing Plague, a strange plague that makes people dance for no reason
In mid-July 1518 in the city of Strasbourg, France, a woman known as Frau Troffea suddenly felt an undeniable urge to dance in the middle of the road, without any reason. Frau Troffea still danced nonstop until a few days later. Within a week, this outbreak "infect" about nearly 100 people who also followed in the footsteps of Frau Troffea experiencing an irresistible urge to suddenly dance. In August, this outbreak affected as many as 400 people to dance endlessly and without cause in the crowded city of Strasbourg.
Local officials announced that the plague of dancing people was caused by "hot blood" disease. But instead of ordering doctors to prescribe drugs to stop bleeding, they ordered this "dancer" group to continue dancing. The people who were attacked by this outbreak were gathered in the city hall to dance to their heart's content. Even the government decided to build a large stage to accommodate those who could not stop dancing.
The authorities did this because they believed that a mob of people dancing without this cause could only stop if they were finally tired of dancing throughout the day and night. A team of professional music dancers and accompaniments were also hired to keep them able to continue dancing. But what happened was the opposite. Many of these impromptu dancers died from extreme fatigue, strokes and heart attacks.
Interestingly, this phenomenon of the Dancing Plague in Strasbourg is not the first time. Counting ten outbreaks of dance that occurred before 1518. One of them hit cities in Belgium in 1374, which also claimed many lives.
What caused the plague of people to dance without stopping and without this cause?
Doctors and doctors in his day suspected that this plague of dancing people was caused by poisoning of ergot psychotropic fungi, which grew on wheat stems. But this idea was quickly broken. After investigation, ergot fungi can trigger delusions and seizures, two characteristics that appear in these impromptu dancers. However, ergot mushrooms also cut off the blood supply to the arms and legs, which makes coordinated movements such as dancing difficult.
Others suspect that these people performed certain heretical sect rituals. But this theory was also broken, because the victims did not show a sincere desire to dance. When they dance, they cry out for help, express suffering, and their desire to stop - but are helpless. What's more, there is no suggestion from any authorities to try to treat these people in ways of worship.
No one knew for sure the cause of this outbreak had finally stopped completely by itself in early September of that year. However, modern researchers have a strong suspicion that mass psychogenic syndrome (MPI) is what caused many people to dance endlessly and without cause in 1518. Mass hysteria is a manifestation of mass hysteria which is often preceded by extreme psychological pressure.
And sure enough. Strasbourg residents at that time were entangled in extreme hunger, extreme hot weather, snow storms and ice rock rain, and drought of agricultural products that had a major impact on the welfare of their communities. In addition to extreme environmental conditions, they also live in the midst of the spread of many diseases, such as variola smallpox, syphilis, and leprosy.
Researchers and historians believe that this series of miserable tragedies ultimately triggered MPI. Mass hysteria spreads rapidly when massive stress is triggered, and often causes fainting, nausea and shortness of breath. Severe stress can also damage the mind to create hallucinations.
