3. Myth: Ergot Poisoning from Rye Grain Led to the Salem Witch Trials
Fact: Religious bigotry was more poisonous for this time period than rye grain.
The theory that the behavior which caused some in Salem to be accused of witchcraft was caused by ergot-tainted rye grain was promoted in the 1970s, immediately refuted by experts, yet remains a belief by many. Since all members of a family ate the same bread and not all members suffered from the effects of ergot poisoning, which includes hallucinations, the theory is obviously incorrect. Ergot poisoning also causes gangrene, but nobody suffering from gangrene was reported at the time of the witch trials, at least nobody on trial for practicing witchcraft. Blaming the mass hysteria which led to the witchcraft trials and subsequent executions on bad grain is satisfying for some as an explanation of the behavior of the victims, but not their accusers.
There were several factors which accounted for the witchcraft trials, including political rivalries, local property disputes, and simple animus. But the one overriding factor was simple religious bigotry, based on superstition and ignorance. The Bible was used to justify the executions, as well as to describe some of the behavior of witches. It was also the authority under which the accused were tortured into offering “confessions” of their crimes. The civil law of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was based on biblical law and the religious conflicts which had marked the English Civil War were reflected in the English American colonies, with similar tortures and executions for heresy and witchcraft.