|
|
 |
Maybe they were bewitched..... ~*~Goldunicorns~*~ |
Growing the seeds of witchcraft By Valerie I. Shell
Ergot, Claviceps purpurea, a fungus infesting cereal crops and grasses, proliferates when summer weather is cool and wet. The distinctive characteristic of ergot-infested grain is its purple to black color in the grain heads just prior to harvest. Known for hundreds of years as somehow connected to epidemics, until the 1800s when its identity as a fungus was first described, the purple was thought to be part of the plant.
Ergot contains potent neurotoxins and vasoconstrictors. In the Middle Ages, midwives discovered that the tiniest dose hastened labor and controlled postpartum bleeding. In the late 19th century, ergot derivatives were used as migraine remedies. The negative effect of an ergot overdose is the disorder, ergotism (called St. Anthony's fire in the Middle Ages, after the patron saint whose Order of St. Anthony cared for those afflicted with the condition). The young, infirm and elderly are most vulnerable. While some cases present miscarriage, gangrene with burning pain and sometimes death, common symptoms of St. Anthony's fire are convulsions, hallucinations, severe psychosis and a dancing mania. Sound like a bad trip from the '60s? It is.
Rye, perhaps the most susceptible grain, was a main source of nutrition in the Middle Ages. The wealthy, possibly aware of the "disease" associated with rye, bought white breads made from wheat, while the poor ate rye bread and consequently suffered the ill-effects of ergot-infested grain. The color of one's bread, thus, became a symbol of social status.
When the New World was settled, many new foods were introduced while beloved staples were brought from Europe. In New England's climate, wheat would not grow well so Colonists grew rye instead. In Europe from about 1670, it became commonly known that ergot-infested rye was linked to St. Anthony's fire. It is not so surprising, though, that a small-town doctor in the wilderness of the Colonies would be ignorant of such a connection. So when Massachusetts' summer weather changed in 1690, rye fields may have turned purple and gone unnoticed. Then in 1692, young girls were found dancing in the woods at night, screaming, convulsing, hallucinating, experiencing burning sensations, having a sense of flying out of their bodies and falling into trances -- all symptoms of ergotism and as we know, bewitchment.
But, the ergot connection is just a theory. Maybe they were bewitched -- no one knows for sure -- Happy Halloween! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Alias | Date | Reply |
| Stile-not-Style |
10/22/2005 1:09:00 PM |
Thanks for the information. I had heard of ergot before. |
| hollie |
10/22/2005 1:32:00 PM |
Hmm, didn't know that. Interesting |
| Paleknight |
10/23/2005 2:18:00 AM |
Actually, Goldunicorns, there was a nova special about the salem witch trials. There was a doctor who described the grain poisoning like you had said. In 1952 in the south of France a similar epidimic occured. The doctors and government officials found that it was the bread they were bying from a cheap bakery. Even though there was a scientific reason for it. The towns people entrenchedly believe it was the devil make a curse upon the afflicted. Thanks for sharing. |
| goldunicorns |
10/25/2005 12:12:00 AM |
one of the admins took out the fact that this poison in the grain makes you ill and gives you the same affects as some kind of street drug, but what that admin did not know WAS ~*~ with the way the government keeps strong tabs on our grain and exports, it no longer happens. So I think she should have left that tid bit in there so people know what it really does to you and what the side effects were so if some people were to go out of our country were the controle is not so tight they would know what to look for.... so admim 5 if you read this I think you should have understood that or at least asked me about it. but thanks for letting me know you took it out. |
| Hagatha |
10/25/2005 1:47:00 AM |
Thanks for the info! Funny about how times change as rye bread is more expensive than white bread now days. I like rye bread with many foods and is supposed to be healthier. It would be cool to know whay really was the cause of the dancing and 'bewitched' actions of those girls. |
| Luna-cy |
11/17/2005 5:45:00 PM |
Interesting :). Thanks for sharing! |
| Mystical Woman |
12/31/2005 5:40:00 AM |
That was very informative and well written. I believe that could have been the reason for many of the witch trials.Where many were tortured for the wrong reasons. |
|
|
|
|
|
