No one can really tell us what happened during the Salem witch trials of 1692. We can go to websites and read all the books we want, but everyone has different theories. A different perspective on the witch trials from someone else's point of view is a great help to curious minds. No matter how many times someone says "oh, I came up with a theory about the Salem epidemic", no one can actually say what happened in Salem, one possibility was Ergot, a fungus found in rye. Some would say that ergot poisoning was not a possibility, but others would agree because the weather conditions were right, the symptoms were exact, and the location of those affected matched where ergot grew best. The weather in Salem in 1691-1692 was said to be horrible. It is said that the previous winter was cold, then the following planting season was wet and hot, followed by a hot and stormy summer. When the seasons had so many flaws and the harvest was bad, Salem turned to rye wheat to make bread. Conditions made things worse in Salem, people began to verbally attack their peers, and food became scarce due to bad harvests. Rye flour was their only option when the weather spoiled what they had for food. When Ergot invades the rye grain, it turns the grain a purple color making it easier for people to notice, but when you manually cut your crops you don't take the time to examine it. (Linnda R. Caporael says, "Rye contains Stearns which grows in low, moist soil; it produces ergot in great abundance") (24). Putnam supplied most of Salem's rye flour when crops failed. His land was swampy and created perfect conditions for mushroom growth. "Certain climatic conditions, i.e. hot and rainy springs and summers, promote a heavier than usual fungal infestation" (24)...... middle of the document ...... soning and the place where the grain was perfect. Ergot poisoning can become uncontrollable and spread as quickly as a wildfire. While no one can conclude what really happened in Salem in the spring of 1692, this theory helps explain plausible results. Of course there are many different theories, but Ergot explains it best. What happened in Salem, Massachusetts will forever remain a mystery, but we will continue to try to find possibilities. Works Cited Carlson, Laurie M. A Fever in Salem: A New Interpretation of the New England Witch Trials. Chicago: IR December 1999. Print.Linnda, Caporael R. Ergotism: Satan Loosed in Salem? Science. New series, vol. 192, n. 4234 (2 April 1976), pp. 21-26Ray, Benjamin C. "Salem Village." The geography of witchcraft accusations in 1692. Salem Village. Cooperativa di storia, 2008. Web. 3 March. 2014.