Ergot Poising: The Salem Witch Trials

The witch trials was a chain of events that spiraled from ergot and then onto other things such as a need for a scapegoat, and personal vengeance. In 1692, the people of Salem had suffered from the poising of ergot that was found in rye bread that they often ate. These people, being under the influence of the drug, had starting experiencing hallucinations, formication, and other symptoms. The children who had made the first claim of witch trials, were most vulnerable to the poisoning. As stated in the article, “When eaten, the fungus can cause symptoms, especially in children” (Sullivan 1). The girls were not in their right minds at the time of the claim and had truly thought that their accusation was best in order to keep their town safe from witches. As the poising of

Pricking and biting are all common forms of witchcraft and are regularly used in court to prove a person guilty of witchcraft.. Throwing up, on the other hand, is not common therefore was not brought up during the Salem witch trial. Not only does the ergot poisoning give a direct explanation for the behavior of humans during this time. It is also proves to why the cows had died off so abruptly. When an animal is infected by ergot it, “makes loud distress noises, stops lactating, and dies”(Sullivan 2). The people during this time believed it was the Martha Carrier killing their cows in a form of witchcraft. Instead, it was in fact ergot poisoning that was infesting the entire town. The ergot poisoning had taken over the town of Salem from 1692-* and not only caused severe symptoms to the people and animals, but also turned the entire town against each other into a war of ***. Universal evil, a need for a scapegoat, and personal vengeance are all minor details of the witch trials, but ergot poisoning is the only logical explanation as to why the witch trials began from the