The Dancing Plague of 1518

In 1518, an entire town in France literally danced themselves to death.

A woman named Frau Troffea started dancing in the streets and couldn't stop. Within days,

dozens joined her in this uncontrollable dance marathon. Authorities thought the cure was more

dancing, so they built stages and hired musicians. Bad idea. The dancing plague

spread to over 400 people. Many collapsed from exhaustion, strokes,

and heart attacks. Doctors were baffled. For centuries, historians blamed ergot poisoning

from moldy bread or mass hysteria. But here's the twist. Recent research suggests it was

actually a stress-induced trance caused by extreme famine and disease. The townspeople