Uncommon Kind of Convulsions
The philosophical Transactions, Vol 5
John Freind
Doctor
1701 AD
Introduction:
In 1701 AD, John Freind, doctor, related a case of contagious hysteria known as "the barking girls". Two related families of young girls were having a grand old time putting on a classic show of hysteria. In 1787 AD, William St. Clare noted in his "An Epidemic Of Hysterics" the following: "barking and howling like dogs . . . accompanied by violent rhythmic movements of the head and contortions of the face . . . when their breath failed they would one by one fall into a paroxysm like an epileptic fit". (Uncommon Kind of Convulsions, John Freind, The philosophical Transactions, vol 5, 1701 AD)
Uncommon Kind of Convulsions, John Freind, The philosophical Transactions, vol 5, 1701 AD
Uncommon Kind of Convulsions, John Freind, The philosophical Transactions, vol 5, 1701 AD
Uncommon Kind of Convulsions, John Freind, The philosophical Transactions, vol 5, 1701 AD
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