Different speculations about the causes of the Salem Witch Trials have been revealed throughout the years. Many studies have been done to analyze the origins of the trials, and there are many articles and journals about the Salem Witch Trials. These resources explain some of the different beliefs about the causes; however, not every theory can be correct. Some researchers have stated their belief that the witchcraft performed was real. Others posit that the trials began because of confrontations among members of the Salem community, but many believe mycotoxins were the reason of the trials because there are many studies that show a certain mycotoxin, ergot, as being a probable cause of the trials. These researchers postulated that ergot poisoning
…show more content…
The growing conditions in Salem at the time were suitable for ergot. Woolf acknowledges that “1691 was a cold winter, [and] the following spring and summer were humid. These are conditions ripe for ergot contamination of rye grain” (459). Oster believes that “adverse weather conditions in this period should be part of an explanation of the witchcraft trial phenomenon” (222). Although Oster was observing trials in Renaissance Europe, these same happenings could have occurred in Salem. Many researchers believe that weather and the changing seasons caused ergot to infect Salem’s food supply. Haarmann et al. acknowledges that Claviceps purpurea, an ergot fungus that grows on rye, “is initiated by ascospores ejected from perithecia, which are formed in spring from germinating overwintering structures” (568). Weather was not the only factor that supported ergot’s growth. The soil also played an important role in ergot’s infection of the population. Gottschalk observes that “this fungus grows best on newly cultivated soil, and the farmers at that time had been planting on new land.” Some also state that “all 22 of the Salem households affected in 1692 were located on or at the edge of soils ideally suited to rye cultivation” (Gottschalk). This statement shows that if ergot had contaminated Salem’s rye, that ergot poisoning could have easily been the cause of the symptoms the girls …show more content…
Ergot is found commonly in rye during the time of the trials. The growing conditions of Salem at the time were very suitable for ergot to contaminate the crops. The winter Salem experienced harmed the other crops they grew, so most of the village ate rye to sustain themselves. It has been stated that “a crop failure forced the Puritans to eat freshly harvested, infected rye… the afflicted were nonrandom and lived along rye supply routes in the town…three of the afflicted girls lived on the Putnam farm, where ergoty rye may have thrived” (Woolf 459). One researcher even states that even “after everyone who was suspected of being a witch had been imprisoned, the symptoms shown by the victims did not go away” (Gottschalk). There are many facts that have been overlooked because they would have gone against the witch claim in court. This shows that ergot is an even better theory for the symptoms because it would have also gone against witchcraft in
The growing conditions in Salem at the time were suitable for ergot. Woolf acknowledges that “1691 was a cold winter, [and] the following spring and summer were humid. These are conditions ripe for ergot contamination of rye grain” (459). Oster believes that “adverse weather conditions in this period should be part of an explanation of the witchcraft trial phenomenon” (222). Although Oster was observing trials in Renaissance Europe, these same happenings could have occurred in Salem. Many researchers believe that weather and the changing seasons caused ergot to infect Salem’s food supply. Haarmann et al. acknowledges that Claviceps purpurea, an ergot fungus that grows on rye, “is initiated by ascospores ejected from perithecia, which are formed in spring from germinating overwintering structures” (568). Weather was not the only factor that supported ergot’s growth. The soil also played an important role in ergot’s infection of the population. Gottschalk observes that “this fungus grows best on newly cultivated soil, and the farmers at that time had been planting on new land.” Some also state that “all 22 of the Salem households affected in 1692 were located on or at the edge of soils ideally suited to rye cultivation” (Gottschalk). This statement shows that if ergot had contaminated Salem’s rye, that ergot poisoning could have easily been the cause of the symptoms the girls …show more content…
Ergot is found commonly in rye during the time of the trials. The growing conditions of Salem at the time were very suitable for ergot to contaminate the crops. The winter Salem experienced harmed the other crops they grew, so most of the village ate rye to sustain themselves. It has been stated that “a crop failure forced the Puritans to eat freshly harvested, infected rye… the afflicted were nonrandom and lived along rye supply routes in the town…three of the afflicted girls lived on the Putnam farm, where ergoty rye may have thrived” (Woolf 459). One researcher even states that even “after everyone who was suspected of being a witch had been imprisoned, the symptoms shown by the victims did not go away” (Gottschalk). There are many facts that have been overlooked because they would have gone against the witch claim in court. This shows that ergot is an even better theory for the symptoms because it would have also gone against witchcraft in