Did HALLUCINOGENS spark the Salem witch trials? Experts say locals may have eaten bread contaminated with a fungus found in LSD

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The Salem witch trials began when a group of young girls claimed they were attacked by 'supernatural beings' sent by villagers who practiced 'the Devil's magic'.

However, scientists claims that that rye grown in Salem had been contaminated with a type of fungus found in LSD that causes people to experience seizures, pain and hallucinations.

This, they claim, could be the real reason for the bizarre claims, and the death of the 20 executed between 1692 and 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts for being witches.

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Twenty people were executed between 1692 and 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts under the suspicion of being witches. The Salem witch trials began when a group of young girls claimed they attacked by 'supernatural beings' sent by other villagers

The strange events began in February 1692, when Reverend Parris' daughter Elizabeth, who was 9 years old, and niece Abigail Williams, age 11, began having 'epileptic fits', reportsThe Smithsonian.

And shortly after, more young girls in the town began experiencing the same symptoms.

These girls would shake uncontrollably, scream in pain and unexpectedly faint.

The behavior caused hysteria throughout the community and when confronted about their actions, the girls claimed they were being attacked by villagers using 'the Devil's magic'.

Although many now believe the girls claims were nothing more than a hoax, one behavioural scientist believes otherwise. 

In 1976, Linnda Caporael, currently at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, discovered that during the summer of 1691, Salem experienced a rainy period that caused a type of fungus, called ergot, to grown on the rye – a staple crop for the community.

'Since ergot prefers wet conditions, this weather pattern could have set the stage for a rye crop that was heavily infected with the fungus,' Caporael wrote in the study.

There are different types of ergotism.

One causes gangrene and a loss of limbs, while another causes convulsions and other symptoms exhibited by the girls.

Caporael believes that the group of girls had consumed bread made of the contaminated rye, which ultimately caused them to think they were being attacked by evil spirits.

THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS

In 1692, mass hysteria swept through Salem, Massachusetts.

Superstitious townspeople, fearful of the devil, began accusing men and women of witchcraft and hounded scores of 'witches' to put on trial.

The hysteria began after a group of young girls in claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft. 

As a hysteria spread throughout Massachusetts, a court convened in Salem to hear the cases. 

The first convicted witch, Bridget Bishop, was hanged that June. 

Eighteen others followed and some 150 more men, women and children were accused over the next several months.

Trials continued with until May 1693.

But by that May, the governor of Massachusetts had pardoned and released all those in prison.

These girls would shake uncontrollably, scream in pain and unexpectedly faint. But, in 1976, Linnda Caporael discovered the towns rye had been contaminated with a fungus that causes vomiting, prickling sensations under the skin and hallucinations 

'The psychedelic hallucinogen LSD was first made using an extract that was isolated from ergot,' she explains.

'But when eaten, the cocktail of poisonous neurotoxins and hallucinogens found in ergot-infected grain can result in a 'bad trip' – ergot poisoning leads to convulsive fits, vomiting, prickling sensations under the skin, and hallucinations.' 

And the girls complained about grievous torment in the bowels, pain in the belly, pinching and pricking on the skin and unexplained choking.

In the end  20 were executed  - one was crushed under a rock and 19 were hanged at Gallows Hill or what is now called Proctor's Ledge (pictured). The map's inset shows the location of Salem, Massachusetts 

Salem experienced a rainy period that caused ergot (pictured) to grown on rye

'These symptoms sound suspiciously similar to the illness experienced by the Salem girls,' wrote Caporael.

'And in fact, other townspeople testified under oath that they had seen apparitions and lights that others who were present could not see.'

'Some also reported being pushed or feeling their skin being pricked when no one else was present. 

'Assuming these experiences were real, ergot poisoning provides a plausible explanation.'

Caporael explains that if ergot caused this mayhem, then most of the people infected would have lived in the western area of town.

This was because records show the 'western section of Salem consisted primarily of swampy fields, so an ergot infection would have likely been concentrated in this area,' she explains.

Out of the 32 accusers, 30 of them lived on the western side and 12 of the 14 accused resided on the eastern side.

Twenty people were executed between 1692 and 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts under the suspicion of being witches. Pictured is a map of Salem Village from 1962

'Since stored grain is eaten throughout the winter, the effects of ergot poisoning on the population would have been cumulative, and in May 1693 the witchcraft trials ended abruptly,' states Caporael.

In the end, 19 were hanged on Gallows Hill, a 71-year-old man was pressed to death with heavy stones, several people died in jail and nearly 200 people had been accused of practicing 'the Devil's magic.'