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Dancing plague of 1518 - There is even controversy concerning the number of deaths

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Today I learned @lemmy.ml garfaagel @sh.itjust.works
TIL about the dancing plague of 1518 in Strasbourg where hundreds started to dance maniacally without any known reason, some even dancing to their death.

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5 comments
  • I think the mass hysteria explanation is the more interesting and, to me, more likely explanation. I think it was too widespread to blame on ergot poisoning.

    • Yeah, it makes you think what's going through a persons mind...

      I wouldn't rule out the food poisoning - we have documented examples of whole villages and cities succumbing to sickness because of polluted water source or wrong materials being used for the water supply.