Witch trials begin

Life wasn’t easy in Salem Village, Mass., in 1692. Smallpox had ravaged the village. Native American tribes threatened attacks. A recent British war made commodities scarce.

Residents already had plenty to fear when a group of young girls conjured up witches amongst the villagers, according to history.com.

Two girls began having screaming fits and convulsions earlier that year. After a doctor diagnosed bewitchment, other girls began having the same symptoms. And thus began the search for witches which quickly focused on three easy targets: an unpopular resident, a beggar woman, and a slave.

By May 1692, there were trials and on June 2, 1692, the first death sentence was handed out to the unpopular resident.

In all, about 150 men, women and children were accused of witchcraft until the hysteria abated and, by September 1692, public opinion turned against the trials.

Interestingly, a study in 1976 published in Science magazine speculated that the girls might have had convulsions because of a fungus found in cereals. Toxicologists say the fungus can cause delusions, vomiting and muscle spasms.