In 1374, people in dozens of towns in the Rhine Valley were seized by a compulsion to do this for days.
Run
Gorge themselves
Pray
Dance
Dance. The affliction, which included hallucinations and uncontrollable jumping and twitching, spread into France and the Netherlands, lasting for months. Explanations for this outbreak of St. James Dance range from ergot mold in bread to mass hysteria. Other outbreaks occurred at various times. Some victims reportedly danced themselves to death.