The Salem Witch Trials of 1691 are a marvelous mystery to anyone interested in history. How did the Salem Witch Trials expand to the devilish, neck-breaking epidemic that we examine today? One of the possible justifications of the horror is the presence of ergot poisoning. The fungus known as ergot is found in rye. Ergot can sever the blood flow to the extremities. Ergot poisoning leads to nail deterioration or even limbs falling off. The disease is also known as “Holy Fire” due to the heat sensations in the extremities. A number of weeks later, the limbs of the infected person will turn black, shrivel up, and dismember themselves from the body. Ergot was more common during extremely harsh winters, followed by a cold, wet spring. The reason for ergot being more commonly present after these conditions is that people would eat their entire food stash before being able to get other food. The populace of Salem were reliant on rye, which is believed to have been infected with ergot poisoning. …show more content…
Adolescents were the largest group believed to have been infected in Salem. The symptoms that the teenagers would experience had close relations to what the colonists believed were signs of witchery; these symptoms include vomiting, spinning sensations, hallucinations, and the feeling of something crawling on your skin. In addition to the symptoms, the geological location of Salem was also able to be tied to the presence of