Ergot

understand how ergot poisoning was responsible for the Salem witchcraft trials, one must examine the growing conditions of ergot, the symptoms of ergot and the victims and examine the colony and the trials. First of all, to understand the ergot poisoning case in Salem one must understand the growing conditions and what grains ergot can infect. Ergot can infect many cereal grains, most important is rye because that is the main crop they grew in salem. The climates needed for ergot to grow are “warm

religion and the effects of the fungus from Ergot poisoning. The Puritan religion consisted of members of the Protestant group that opposed many customs of the Church of England. They followed strict moral rules and believed that pleasure was wrong. Since the religion was based on the Old Testament, they did not hesitate to punish their members when they broke the rules. The severe rules and punishments could have long-lasting mental effects to the victims. Ergot poisoning is the contamination of rye grain

•Topic: Is Ergot the reason for people accusing women and men of witchcraft? I. Introduction a. Hook: Could Ergot have actually been the culprit? b. Thesis statement: Toxicologists have recently found that eating ergot can bring on symptoms such as have been described in the salem witch trials. c. Argument #1: The symptoms that are described in the trials are violent muscle spasms, vomiting, delusions, hallucinations, crawling sensations on the skin, and more. d. Argument #2: Linnda Carporeal

The most important reason was the ergot, which was a parasitic fungus that poisoned people through rye bread. This caused caused symptoms that were very similar to the symptoms blamed on witchcraft, leading adding credibility to this reason. Additionally, this reason is the most logical and scientifically sound reason out of all of these documents, since it relied on biology. The second most important reason was probably the fanaticism that caused everyone to blame Satan for the witchcraft, which

of the trials. We know that a few girls made the first accusations, but why. I will now explain how Salem became one of the most notorious towns in Massachusetts. Ergot poisoning was the cause for the witch trials as it caused the girls to become crazed and delirious. First you may ask yourself what exactly is Ergot poisoning. Ergot is a fungal disease of rye that grows in the ear of the Cereal. Early colonists reported that they were dissatisfied with the common grass as it made their cattle ill

In total there are five possible explanations that are discussed. The first being the theory that Mass Hysteria was why the girls acted like they. The second explanation discussed is their lifestyle, the third Mass Conversion Disorder, the fourth ergot poisoning, and the fifth being encephalitis lethargica. In each of these sections facts about the explanation, how the conditions supported it, and other evidence for them are discussed.  Possible Explanations for the Actions of the Afflicted Girls

issues that might have affected the way the afflicted girls behaved. Ergot poisoning can be a possibility. The convulsive symptoms that can be a result of consuming poisonous ergot contaminated rye bread must have been the cause of girls being bewitched. Rye is a common grain which was heavily relied by the Puritan society during that time, and the important part of it to highlight is that it was contaminated with the fungus (Ergot). It is most likely to grow in damp conditions. Variations in weather

1692. During the witch trials, many were wrongfully accused and some were executed. There are many theories about why this horror story commenced, but there are no clear appointed reasons. Medical factors may have contributed to the events such as ergot poisoning, traumatic stress, and mass hysteria. Considering that this was an early time in American history, it was likely that these factors were overlooked and ignored. This is a mystery impossible to overlook. The first accusations were made by

discovered the suspicion that ergot poisoning might have been a factor, I did a great deal of research in that area. This topic can be

possibilities behind the trials. Although many theories were considered, none could explain why so many were accused and hanged. Notably, ergot poisoning was a highly considered theory for the Salem trials. Farming conditions in the western part of Salem Village, Putnam farmland, were warm, damp, and swampy, the perfect environment for fungus to grow. The poison from ergot would grow in rye and cereal grains.