Ever since 1997, Alien Zoo, Dr. Shuker's cryptozoology news column, has been a regular feature in "Fortean Times," the world's premier magazine devoted to unexplained phenomena of every kind. Today, the long-running series has been meticulously compiled by Dr. Shuker, incorporating numerous remarkable illustrations.

This book surveys the rich, colourful history of mass hysteria and kindred phenomena in schools, from outbreaks of demonic possession during witchcraft scares to twitching and shaking epidemics that became common in nineteenth century European schools, to more contemporary incidents of collapsing bands, itching frenzies, ghost panics and 'mystery' illnesses. Sociologist Robert Bartholomew and historian Robert Rickard trace mysterious outbreaks of strange behavior and illness in students through the centuries. From the possessed children who went into trance states and began to bark like dogs...