Saint Vitus' dance

Posted by Bruce Kahl on March 22, 2002

In Reply to: SEPHITUS DANCE posted by Neil smith on March 22, 2002

: When I was younger I could never sit still, and my grandparents always use to say I had 'SEPHITUS DANCE'. I doubt the spelling is correct. Is this a real saying, and if so can anybody explain it.

SYLLABICATION: Syd·en·ham's chorea
PRONUNCIATION: sdn-mz
NOUN: A nervous disorder occurring chiefly in childhood or during pregnancy, closely associated with rheumatic fever, and characterized by rapid, jerky, involuntary movements of the body. Also called Saint Vitus' dance.
ETYMOLOGY: After Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689), English physician.