Effects Of Ergotism In The Salem Witchcraft Trials

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The Salem girls were afflicted by ergot, not by witchcraft. “Convulsive ergotism is described by many symptoms which are crawling sensations, tingling in the fingers, vertigo, tinnitus aurium, headaches, hallucinations, vomiting and diarrhea” (Caporael). “All of these symptoms of convulsive ergotism were present in the Salem witchcraft trials. Another reason explaining the ergotism effect was that spring sowing for the rye, a popular grain at the time which can easily be infected by ergot, took place in April, and was harvested in August. However, the rye was harvested and stored in barns for months and the timing of the Salem events fits this cycle” (Caporael). Lastly, only 3 of the afflicted girls lived in an area where it would have been
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