Path. [Short for L. chorea Sancti Viti, St. Vitus’s dance; L. chorēa, a. Gr. χορεία dance, f. χορός: see CHORUS.]
St. Vitus’s dance, a name given to the dancing madness (choreomania) which spread in the 15th c. from Germany throughout Europe; an epidemic (probably hysterical) characterized by contortions, convulsions and dancing. In 17th c. extended to the disease at present known by that name; a convulsive disorder, usually occurring in early life, and characterized by irregular involuntary contractions of the muscles, esp. of the face and arms; also affecting horses.
1686. Sydenham, Sched. monit., Wks. (1695), 661. In quadam Convulsionis specie quæ Chorea Sancti Viti vulgo appellatur.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., Chorea Sancti Viti, is a sort of Madness … wherein the Person affected … ran hither and thither dancing to the last gasp, if they were not forcibly hindred.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 125. Mr. Alexander … relates three interesting cases of chorea.
1831. Youatt, Horse, vii. (1847), 154. Chorea, this is a convulsive twitching of some muscle or set of muscles.
1846. G. Day, trans. Simon’s Anim. Chem., II. 325. A girl aged 13 years, suffering from chorea.
Hence Choreal, Choreatic, Choreic (incorrectly choreaic, choræic) adjs., pertaining to or symptomatic of chorea, affected with chorea. Choreiform (incorrectly choreaform) a., resembling the symptoms of chorea.
1861. T. Graham, Pract. Med., 598. The choreal have the first active symptoms of cerebral disease.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 125. Deglutition … attended with chorcatic gesticulations.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 340. Diminishing temporarily the choreic movements.
1878. Rep. Smithsonian Inst., 417. Choreaic twitchings of the left hand.
1882. trans. Ribot’s Dis. Memory, II. 82. A young woman, aged twenty-six, hysterical and choreic.
1877. Roberts, Handbk. Med. (ed. 3), I. 231. Choreiform movements.
