Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 249, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1913 — TANGO DUE TO NEURASTHENIA [ARTICLE]

TANGO DUE TO NEURASTHENIA

Explanation of the Apparent “Craze" Thus Made by a Writer in Medical Journal. The dancing epidemic which the country is witnessing recalls in some respects the dancing mania of the middle ages, which has been frequently discussed in the litearture of neurological medicine, remarks a writer in Medical Timeß. The ragtime and turkey trot manias appear to be contagious in much the same way that the medieval manias were. They are also alike in respect to widespread prevalence, the populations of whole continents being affected. These neurotic phenomena have been ascribed to widespread neurasthenia, due to unrest and other pathological social conditions. These and the naive determination to be “amused” that characterized the masses, together with the peculiar influence of a type of "music” which seems to set up characteristic motor reactions, account for the specially sensitized class which may be observed in action day and night almost anywhere in the country. This class illustrates well the principles laid down by M. -Le Bon, that authority on the psychology of the crowd. Then it has been pointed out that many ragtime tunes are versions of negro revival hymns, which perhaps introduces an element of quasi-religious emotionalism and also recalls the interesting fact that dancing has always been connected with religion, especially pagan religion. The Instinct to dance is a very primitive one, and through the dance certain emotions find outlet and expression. There is a normal and an abnormal phase to the subject, however, and we are inclined to think that it is the latter that finds exemplification in ragtime and trotting.