The Epidemics of the Middle AgesHecker, J. F. C. (Justus Friedrich Carl)
History
The Epidemics of the Middle Ages
Hecker, J. F. C. (Justus Friedrich Carl)
Black Death; Epidemics -- History; Hysteria, Epidemic
“At half-past seven the motions commenced again, when I was sent for.
There were two drummers present, and an unbraced drum was beaten till
the other was braced. She danced regularly to the unbraced drum, but
the moment the other commenced she instantly ceased. As missing the
time stopped the affections, I wished the measure to be changed during
the dance, which stopped the attack. It also ceased upon increasing
the rapidity of the beat, till she could no longer keep time; and it
was truly surprising to see the rapidity and violence of the muscular
exertion, in order to keep time with the increasing movement of the
instrument. Five times I saw her sit down the same evening, at the
instant that she was unable to keep the measure; and in consequence
of this I desired the drummers to beat one continued roll, instead
of a regular movement. She arose and danced five minutes, when both
drums beat a continued roll: the motions instantly stopped, and the
patient sat down. In a few minutes the motions commencing again, she
was suffered to dance five minutes, when the drums again began to
roll, the effect of which was instantaneous; the motions ceased, and
the patient sat down. In a few minutes the same was repeated with the
same effect. It appeared certain that the attacks could now be stopped
in an instant, and I was desirous of arresting them entirely, and
breaking the chain of irregular associations which constituted the
disease. As the motions at this period always commenced in the fingers,
and propagated themselves along the upper extremities to the trunk, I
desired the drummers, when the patient arose to dance, to watch the
commencement of the attack, and roll the drums before she arose from
the chair. Six times successively the patient was hindered from rising,
by attending to the commencement of the affection; and before leaving
the house, I desired the family to attend to the commencement of the
attacks, and use the drum early.
“March 2. She arose at seven o’clock, and the motions commenced at
ten; she danced twice before the drummer was prepared, after which
she attempted to dance again four several times; but one roll of a
well-braced drum hindered the patient from leaving her seat, after
which the attacks did not recur. She was left weakly and fatigued by
the disease, but with a good appetite. In the evening of this day an
eruption appeared, particularly about the elbows, in diffused patches
of a bright red colour, which went off on the third day.”
Other cases might be adduced, (see 23d vol. of the Edinburgh Medical
and Surgical Journal, p. 261; 31st vol. of ditto, p. 299; 5th vol. of
the Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, pp. 1 to 23, &c.,) but as there
is none more striking than this, they would unnecessarily swell this
number of the Appendix, which has already extended to an undue length.
VI.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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