Ergot

able to hold strength that long without some supply of food. The plague has many, many separate theories on what might have caused the dancing to begin, but with Mr. Mullins’ lack of confidence in his article, it helps to strengthen the argument of ergot. While his statements on how not knowing when one will be able to eat again, and worrying on these matters, the brain would begin to enter a psychological state that may seem very difficult to pull out of, as stated earlier, the energy would…

According to Ergotism: The Satan Loosed in Salem, Ergot is a poisonous fungus that grows on rye grain. The fungus works by attaching to the nervous system of the individual who ingests it. Symptoms of Ergot poisoning include body pain, trembling, muscle spasms, confusion, and hallucinations. Some scholars argue that the climate conditions of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692 were adequate for ergot fungus to grow on the Puritan’s crops (Caporael,…

actually guilty? The village of Salem mostly grew rye, which is a type of oat. During the time of these witch accusations was when the rye would grow the most. Rye can get a disease called ergot. Ergot is caused by the overwintering stage of rye. One theory states that the girls could have ate infected rye and got ergot poisoning. Ergotism causes a nervous dysfunction in the body, which would cause trembling and shaking, twisting and contorting their body in pain, muscle spasms, confusions,…

but there is no agreed upon explanation as to why people were put on trial. The Salem witch trials were known to be fueled by hysteria, causing intolerance, irritability, and capriciousness, but some theories say otherwise. These theories include ergot poisoning, cold weather, jealousy among the townsfolk, the spread of Huntington 's disease, and the deep belief of religion. In the following paragraphs, each theory will be analyzed and explained whether…

making it possible for very young children to suffer from this condition.” (ancientstandard.com) Ergot can be found abundantly on one crop, and then simply disappear into the next year. Why were other towns not experiencing the same things? Well, because it can be found in great quantities in one place, but only a few miles down the road, there will not be a trace of its condition. “Common symptoms of ergot poisoning are the afflicted person twisting and contorting their body in pain, trembling,…

several were executed because of these accusations. There are many theories surrounding the causes of the Salem Witch Trials. Five possible causes are boredom, the strong belief in the occult, personal differences, the cold weather theory, and ergot poisoning. There is a sufficient amount of belief surrounding each of the theories, but is it possible that more than one of these theories played a part in the witch trials. The Salem Witch Trials began in Salem Village, Massachusetts in…

Causes of the Salem Witch Trials The Salem witch trial of 1692 was an important event that took place at the Salem Village, situated in the Massachusetts Bay colony, in the 17th century. Several young girls began to depict hysterical behaviors and began suffering for fits. Upon being examined by the local physicians the girls were found to have been afflicted. The girls were pressurized on declaring names of the one bewitching them and the whole event started with the accusation of three girls…

today were accused of being a witch. The Salem Witch trials started with a group of girls. They started having fits and, the Doctor told the parents of the girls that it was witchcraft. We aren’t sure if it was Ergot poisoning or they just did it to get attention. It could have been Ergot poisoning because the…

escalated quicker than expected due to the ergot fungus. The growth of the ergot fungus is contingent on damp, warm weather to proliferate and these were the appropriate conditions within Salem of 1691. Grain would be cultivated in the fall of 1691 and later eaten in the winter, when soon after the witchcraft accusations began. Moreover, the majority of the grains were cultivated in the western portion of the village where the majority of the accusers lived. The ergot in combination with those…

suddenly, but researchers believe that it could have been a disease such as “convulsive ergotism”. “Convulsive ergotism” is brought on by the consumption of rye that has been infected with ergot, (Ergot is caused by a fungus which invades developing kernels of rye grain) the modern drug of LSD derives from ergot (Linder, paragraph 5). This day would change the lives of those who lived in Salem. After Betty fell ill the conversation of witchcraft increased throughout the town when her fellow…