Ergotism In Salem

Ergotism is poisoning caused by consumption of foods contaminated with the fungus ergot, resulting in hallucinations and other symptoms. Behavioral psychologist Linda Carporael and many historians have found links between ergotism and the Salem witch hunt. Ergotism was likely a major cause of the infamous mass hysteria in Salem. First of all, the circumstances/conditions in Salem at the time were ideal for ergotism-fueled hysteria. Rye, a grain very susceptible to ergot, was a staple crop in Salem, so it was accessible and widely consumed by townspeople. Also, the winter of 1691 was particularly wet, setting the stage for massive ergot growth in the grain that year. Swampy farmlands in the western side of town provided particularly damp conditions where ergot flourished and became especially concentrated. Unsurprisingly, a large majority of the accusers (excluding the girls) came from the western side of town, while most of the “witches” lived on the eastern side of town. Consumption of grain highly …show more content…
The poisonous combination of neurotoxins and hallucinogens in contaminated grain caused vomiting, convulsing, prickling sensation under the skin, and hallucinations. The girls alarmed the townspeople with incomprehensible screaming, contortions, and complaints of crawling sensations on their skin. Physicians at the time couldn’t diagnose the girls’ sickness, leaving few options to explain the ailment. To many, witchcraft became the only viable culprit. Hallucinations likely caused the girls to see visions that they perceived as supernatural. They might also have misidentified the prickling sensations as the work of the Devil through “witches” in the town. Also, many other townspeople reported seeing visions of light and apparitions. Those who were unaffected by the ergotism epidemic may have escaped the contaminated rye and watched in horror as the witch hunt spiraled of