bration of the festival of St。 John； A。D。 1374； only served to bring to a crisis a malady which had been long impending； and if we would further inquire how a hitherto harmless usage； which like many others had but served to keep up superstition； could degenerate into so serious a disease； we must take into account the unusual excitement of men's minds； and the consequences of wretchedness and want。 The bowels； which in many were debilitated by hunger and bad food； were precisely the parts which in most cases were attacked with excruciating pain； and the tympanitic state of the intestines points out to the intelligent physician an origin of the disorder which is well worth consideration。
SECT。 4MORE ANCIENT DANCING PLAGUES
The Dancing Mania of the year 1374 was； in fact； no new disease； but a phenomenon well known in the Middle Ages； of which many wondrous stories were traditionally current among the people。 In the year 1237 upwards of a hundred children were said to have been suddenly seized with this disease at Erfurt； and to have proceeded dancing and jumping along the road to Arnstadt。 When they arrived at that place they fell exhausted to the ground； and； according to an account of an old chronicle； many of them； after they were taken home by their parents； died； and the rest remained affected； to the end of their lives； with a permanent tremor。 Another occurrence was related to have taken place on the Moselle Bridge at Utrecht； on the 17th day of June； A。D。 1278； when two hundred fanatics began to dance； and would not desist until a priest passed； who was carrying the Host to a person that was sick； upon which； as if in punishment of their crime； the bridge gave way； and they were all drowned。 A similar event also occurred so early as the year 1027； near the convent church of Kolbig； not far from Bernburg。 According to an oft…repeated tradition； eighteen peasants； some of whose names are still preserved； are said to have disturbed divine service on Christmas Eve by dancing and brawling in the churchyard； whereupon the priest； Ruprecht； inflicted a curse upon them； that they should dance and scream for a whole year without ceasing。 This curse is stated to have been completely fulfilled； so that the unfortunate sufferers at length sank knee…deep into the earth； and remained the whole time without nourishment； until they were finally released by the intercession of two pious bishops。 It is said that； upon this； they fell into a deep sleep； which lasted three days； and that four of them died； the rest continuing to suffer all their lives from a trembling of their limbs。 It is not worth while to separate what may have been true； and what the addition of crafty priests； in this strangely distorted story。 It is sufficient that it was believed； and related with astonishment and horror； throughout the Middle Ages； so that when there was any exciting cause for this delirious raving and wild rage for dancing； it failed not to produce its effects upon men whose thoughts were given up to a belief in wonders and apparitions。
This disposition of mind； altogether so peculiar to the Middle Ages； and which； happily for mankind； has yielded to an improved state of civilisation and the diffusion of popular instruction； accounts for the origin and long duration of this extraordinary mental disorder。 The good sense of the people recoiled with horror and aversion from this heavy plague； which； whenever malevolent persons wished to curse their bitterest enemies and adversaries； was long after used as a malediction。 The indignation also that was felt by the people at large against the immorality of the age； was proved by their ascribing this frightful affliction to the inefficacy of baptism by unchaste priests； as if innocent children were doomed to atone； in after… years； for this desecration of the sacrament administered by unholy hands。 We have already mentioned what perils the priests in the Netherlands incurred from this belief。 They now； indeed； endeavoured to hasten their reconciliation with the irritated； and； at that time； very degenerate people； by exorcisms； which； with some； procured them greater respect than ever； because they thus visibly restored thousands of those who were affected。 In general； however； there prevailed a want of confidence in their efficacy； and then the sacred rites had as little power in arresting the progress of this deeply…rooted malady as the prayers and holy services subsequently had at the altars of the greatly… revered martyr St。 Vitus。 We may therefore ascribe it to accident merely； and to a certain aversion to this demoniacal disease； which seemed to lie beyond the reach of human skill； that we meet with but few and imperfect notices of the St。 Vitus's dance in the second half of the fifteenth century。 The highly…coloured descriptions of the sixteenth century contradict the notion that this mental plague had in any degree diminished in its severity； and not a single fact is to be found which supports the opinion that any one of the essential symptoms of the disease； not even excepting the tympany； had disappeared； or that the disorder itself had become milder in its attacks。 The physicians never； as it seems； throughout the whole of the fifteenth century； undertook the treatment of the Dancing Mania； which； according to the prevailing notions； appertained exclusively to the servants of the Church。 Against demoniacal disorders they had no remedies； and though some at first did promulgate the opinion that the malady had its origin in natural circumstances； such as a hot temperament； and other causes named in the phraseology of the schools； yet these opinions were the less examined as it did not appear worth while to divide with a jealous priesthood the care of a host of fanatical vagabonds and beggars。
SECT。 5PHYSICIANS
It was not until the beginning of the sixteenth century that the St。 Vitus's dance was made the subject of medical research； and stripped of its unhallowed character as a work of demons。 This was effected by Paracelsus； that mighty but； as yet； scarcely comprehended reformer of medicine； whose aim it was to withdraw diseases from the pale of miraculous interpositions and saintly influences； and explain their causes upon principles deduced from his knowledge of the human frame。 〃We will not； however； admit that the saints have power to inflict diseases； and that these ought to be named after them； although many there are who； in their theology； lay great stress on this supposition； ascribing them rather to God than to nature； which is but idle talk。 We dislike such nonsensical gossip as is not supported by symptoms； but only by faitha thing which is not human； whereon the gods themselves set no value。〃
Such were the words which Paracelsus addressed to his contemporaries； who were； as yet； incapable of appreciating doctrines of this sort； for the belief in enchantment still remained everywhere unshaken； and faith in the world of spirits still held men's minds in so close a bondage that thousands were； according to their own conviction； given up as a prey to the devil； while at the command of religion； as well as of law； countless piles were lighted； by the flames of which human society was to be purified。
Paracelsus divides the St。 Vitus's dance into three kinds。 First； that which arises from imagination （Vitista； Chorea imaginativa； aestimativa）； by which the original Dancing Plague is to be understood。 Secondly； that which arises from sensual desires； depending on the will （Chorea lasciva）。 Thirdly； that which arises from corporeal causes （Chorea naturalis； coacta）； which； according to a strange notion of his own； he explained by maintaining that in certain vessels which are susceptible of an internal pruriency； and thence produce laughter； the blood is set in commotion in consequence of an alteration in the vital spirits； whereby involuntary fits of intoxicating joy and a propensity to dance are occasioned。 To this notion he was； no doubt； led from having observed a milder form of St。 Vitus's dance； not uncommon in his time； which was accompanied by involuntary laughter； and which bore a resemblance to the hysterical laughter of the moderns； except that it was characterised by more pleasurable sensations and by an extravagant propensity to dance。 There was no howling； screaming； and jumping； as in the severer form； neither was the disposition to dance by any means insuperable。 Patients thus affected； although they had not a complete control over their understandings； yet were sufficiently self…possessed during the attack to obey the directions which they received。 There were even some among them who did not dance at all； but only felt an involuntary impulse to allay the internal sense of disquietude； which is the usual forerunner of an attack of this kind； by laughter and quick walking carried to the extent of producing fatigue。 This disorder； so different from the original type； evidently approximates to the modern chorea； or； rather； is in perfect accordance with it； even to the less essential symptom of laughter。 A mitigation in the form of the Dancing Mania had thus clearly taken place at the commencement of the sixteenth century。
On the communication of the St。 Vitus's dance by sympathy； Paracelsus； in his peculiar language； expresses himself with great spirit； and shows a profound knowledge of the nature of sensual impressions； which find their way to the heartthe seat of joys and emotionswhich overpower the opposition of reason； and whilst 〃all other qualities and natures〃 are subdued； incessantly impel the patient； in consequence of his original compliance； and his all…conquering imagination； to imitate what he has seen。 On his treatment of the disease we cannot bestow any great praise； but must be content with the remark that it was in conformity with the notions of the age in which he lived。 For the first kind； which often originated in passionate excitement； he had a mental remedy； the efficacy of which is not to be despised； if we estimate its value in connection with the prevalent opinions of those times。 The patient was to make an image of himself in wax or resin； and by an effort of thought to concentrate all his blasphemies a