How Did Salem Witch Trials Cause Mass Hysteria

The majority of individuals have heard about the Salem Witch Trials, either from a history lesson or when reading for their enjoyment. People often wonder how a group of young girls convinced residents in the town of Salem of being witches, causing a large number of executions. However, for many years, people have not found a definitive answer to what really caused the mass hysteria. Researchers speculate it could be rooted in ergotism, a disease caused by the consumption of ergot, which usually grows on rye (Caporael). Due to this, the girls could have imagined that they were being attacked by “witches.” Contrary to this thought process, the girls suffered immensely from psychological and physical illnesses causing hysteria for not only them

These techniques planted a seed for the belief that witchcraft was in Salem. The afflicted girls also experienced physical illnesses that the residents of Salem associated with witchcraft. They experienced uncontrollable muscle movements, a tingling sensation in the arms and legs, paranoia, stiffness, making strange noises, loss of consciousness, feeling dazed, and undergoing seizures (“Symptoms”). Dr. Quintinilla, a physician and researcher, “...was able to match the symptoms of people condemned as witches with associated neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as epilepsy and hysteria” (Quintanilla 1). The symptoms the girls were experiencing included loss of consciousness, anxiety, and uncontrollable muscle movements which have a strong connection to the physical symptoms of epilepsy (Epilepsy). There is little to show for those who consider the cause to be ergot poisoning. If this were the case, it would explain only the afflicted girls hallucinating being attacked by