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swathing was resorted to on account of the tympany which followed these spasmodic ravings； but the bystanders frequently relieved patients in a less artificial manner； by thumping and trampling upon the parts affected。 While dancing they neither saw nor heard； being insensible to external impressions through the senses； but were haunted by visions； their fancies conjuring up spirits whose names they shrieked out； and some of them afterwards asserted that they felt as if they had been immersed in a stream of blood； which obliged them to leap so high。 Others； during the paroxysm； saw the heavens open and the Saviour enthroned with the Virgin Mary； according as the religious notions of the age were strangely and variously reflected in their imaginations。
Where the disease was completely developed； the attack commenced with epileptic convulsions。 Those affected fell to the ground senseless； panting and labouring for breath。 They foamed at the mouth； and suddenly springing up began their dance amidst strange contortions。 Yet the malady doubtless made its appearance very variously； and was modified by temporary or local circumstances； whereof non…medical contemporaries but imperfectly noted the essential particulars； accustomed as they were to confound their observation of natural events with their notions of the world of spirits。
It was but a few months ere this demoniacal disease had spread from Aix…la…Chapelle； where it appeared in July； over the neighbouring Netherlands。 In Liege； Utrecht； Tongres； and many other towns of Belgium； the dancers appeared with garlands in their hair； and their waists girt with cloths； that they might； as soon as the paroxysm was over； receive immediate relief on the attack of the tympany。 This bandage was； by the insertion of a stick； easily twisted tight： many； however； obtained more relief from kicks and blows； which they found numbers of persons ready to administer： for； wherever the dancers appeared； the people assembled in crowds to gratify their curiosity with the frightful spectacle。 At length the increasing number of the affected excited no less anxiety than the attention that was paid to them。 In towns and villages they took possession of the religious houses； processions were everywhere instituted on their account； and masses were said and hymns were sung； while the disease itself； of the demoniacal origin of which no one entertained the least doubt； excited everywhere astonishment and horror。 In Liege the priests had recourse to exorcisms； and endeavoured by every means in their power to allay an evil which threatened so much danger to themselves； for the possessed assembling in multitudes； frequently poured forth imprecations against them； and menaced their destruction。 They intimidated the people also to such a degree that there was an express ordinance issued that no one should make any but square…toed shoes； because these fanatics had manifested a morbid dislike to the pointed shoes which had come into fashion immediately after the 〃Great Mortality〃 in 1350。 They were still more irritated at the sight of red colours； the influence of which on the disordered nerves might lead us to imagine an extraordinary accordance between this spasmodic malady and the condition of infuriated animals； but in the St。 John's dancers this excitement was probably connected with apparitions consequent upon their convulsions。 There were likewise some of them who were unable to endure the sight of persons weeping。 The clergy seemed to become daily more and more confirmed in their belief that those who were affected were a kind of sectarians； and on this account they hastened their exorcisms as much as possible； in order that the evil might not spread amongst the higher classes； for hitherto scarcely any but the poor had been attacked； and the few people of respectability among the laity and clergy who were to be found among them； were persons whose natural frivolity was unable to withstand the excitement of novelty； even though it proceeded from a demoniacal influence。 Some of the affected had indeed themselves declared； when under the influence of priestly forms of exorcism； that if the demons had been allowed only a few weeks' more time； they would have entered the bodies of the nobility and princes； and through these have destroyed the clergy。 Assertions of this sort； which those possessed uttered whilst in a state which may be compared with that of magnetic sleep； obtained general belief； and passed from mouth to mouth with wonderful additions。 The priesthood were； on this account； so much the more zealous in their endeavours to anticipate every dangerous excitement of the people； as if the existing order of things could have been seriously threatened by such incoherent ravings。 Their exertions were effectual； for exorcism was a powerful remedy in the fourteenth century； or it might perhaps be that this wild infatuation terminated in consequence of the exhaustion which naturally ensued from it； at all events； in the course of ten or eleven months the St。 John's dancers were no longer to be found in any of the cities of Belgium。 The evil； however； was too deeply rooted to give way altogether to such feeble attacks。
A few months after this dancing malady had made its appearance at Aix…la…Chapelle； it broke out at Cologne； where the number of those possessed amounted to more than five hundred； and about the same time at Metz； the streets of which place are said to have been filled with eleven hundred dancers。 Peasants left their ploughs； mechanics their workshops； housewives their domestic duties； to join the wild revels； and this rich commercial city became the scene of the most ruinous disorder。 Secret desires were excited； and but too often found opportunities for wild enjoyment； and numerous beggars； stimulated by vice and misery； availed themselves of this new complaint to gain a temporary livelihood。 Girls and boys quitted their parents； and servants their masters； to amuse themselves at the dances of those possessed； and greedily imbibed the poison of mental infection。 Above a hundred unmarried women were seen raving about in consecrated and unconsecrated places； and the consequences were soon perceived。 Gangs of idle vagabonds； who understood how to imitate to the life the gestures and convulsions of those really affected； roved from place to place seeking maintenance and adventures； and thus； wherever they went； spreading this disgusting spasmodic disease like a plague； for in maladies of this kind the susceptible are infected as easily by the appearance as by the reality。 At last it was found necessary to drive away these mischievous guests； who were equally inaccessible to the exorcisms of the priests and the remedies of the physicians。 It was not； however； until after four months that the Rhenish cities were able to suppress these impostures； which had so alarmingly increased the original evil。 In the meantime； when once called into existence； the plague crept on； and found abundant food in the tone of thought which prevailed in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries； and even； though in a minor degree； throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth； causing a permanent disorder of the mind； and exhibiting in those cities to whose inhabitants it was a novelty； scenes as strange as they were detestable。
SECT。 2ST。 VITUS'S DANCE
Strasburg was visited by the 〃Dancing Plague〃 in the year 1418； and the same infatuation existed among the people there； as in the towns of Belgium and the Lower Rhine。 Many who were seized at the sight of those affected； excited attention at first by their confused and absurd behaviour； and then by their constantly following swarms of dancers。 These were seen day and night passing through the streets； accompanied by musicians playing on bagpipes； and by innumerable spectators attracted by curiosity； to which were added anxious parents and relations； who came to look after those among the misguided multitude who belonged to their respective families。 Imposture and profligacy played their part in this city also； but the morbid delusion itself seems to have predominated。 On this account religion could only bring provisional aid； and therefore the town council benevolently took an interest in the afflicted。 They divided them into separate parties； to each of which they appointed responsible superintendents to protect them from harm； and perhaps also to restrain their turbulence。 They were thus conducted on foot and in carriages to the chapels of St。 Vitus； near Zabern and Rotestein； where priests were in attendance to work upon their misguided minds by masses and other religious ceremonies。 After divine worship was completed； they were led in solemn procession to the altar； where they made some small offering of alms； and where it is probable that many were； through the influence of devotion and the sanctity of the place； cured of this lamentable aberration。 It is worthy of observation； at all events； that the Dancing Mania did not recommence at the altars of the saint； and that from him alone assistance was implored； and through his miraculous interposition a cure was expected； which was beyond the reach of human skill。 The personal hist