@article{ref1,
title="Epidemic hysteria in Virginia: the case of the phantom gasser of 1933-1934",
journal="Southern medical journal",
year="1999",
author="Bartholomew, R. and Wessely, Simon",
volume="92",
number="8",
pages="762-769",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: We studied an example of epidemic hysteria occurring outside a closed community and involving fear of being &quot;gassed.&quot; The description presented is that of a previously unrecorded case of epidemic hysteria in the state of Virginia during 1933-1934. DATA SOURCES: Data were gathered from contemporary newspaper accounts. CONCLUSION: The case of the Virginia &quot;gasser&quot; is one in a long series of epidemic hysteria incidents during the 20th century, coinciding with heightened awareness of environmental pollution and triggered by imaginary or exaggerated contamination threats. A recommendation is provided on how physicians should approach such episodes.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0038-4348",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}