Happy New Year from Gary, Indiana!
We started class again today. For Christmas I went back home to Indianapolis to visit friends and family. Over break I went to a meeting to finalize some of the details for our annual medical school formal, fittingly called the St. Vitus Dance.
Last year I was confused by the name of our “doctor prom,” so I got on Wikipedia like any medical student would. I learned that St. Vitus Dance is another name for Sydenham’s chorea. A chorea is a neurological disorder which causes the person to have involuntary movements of different parts of the body. This specific form of chorea is the result of a childhood infection with Group A Streptococci. Because rheumatic fever is much less common in the United States now (thanks to antibiotics for Strep throat), we don’t see this symptom as in the past. The chorea was named after St. Vitus as he is the patron saint of dancers.
A social phenomenon called “Dancing Mania” is also named after him. These outbreaks of mass dancing plagued Germany and it’s neighboring countries during the 7th to 17th centuries. Hundreds to thousands of people would suddenly break out into uncontrollable, erratic dancing that would last until collapse from exhaustion.
Sounds pretty crazy, right? The people effected thought it was a supernatural influence from St. Vitus or some form of spiritual phenomenon, but current speculation points to large-group social influence or mass psychogenic illness. Ergot fungus poisoning growing on rye bread could explain some of the hallucinations and symptoms that could hit a large group of people. Some people believe the outbreaks were staged as a form of ritual.
I don’t think there could be a better name for a medical school dance than St. Vitus. Especially because quite a few of us dance in bizarre, erratic movements – we’re going to be doctors, not entertainers. With nine different campuses and some students staying at regional centers for 3rd and 4th year, this annual event is a great way for over 500 students to socialize and enjoy some time off school and work.
Too bad there aren’t any dancing mania outbreaks nowadays. It sounds like a good time. However, flash mobs are popping up all over the place…
Group of some Purdue friends reuniting at St. Vitus 2011 - Representing four different campuses
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Hopefully your 2012 St. Vitus Dance will once again be at the Indiana State Museum!
Of course we recognized our “Indiana” obelisk behind you in your photo…one
of Robert Indiana’s more iconic pieces (also known for “Love” and “2000″).
Comment by MediaKath — January 4, 2012 @ 6:38 pm