GR-related: ergotism

[pynchonoid]

from the MAPS list:


	Subject: 	MAPS: Abstract: Witches and Ergotism
	Date: 	February 10, 2004 2:44:27 PM PST
	Economic Botany: Vol. 57, No. 3, pp. 403–416.

<http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-abstract&issn=0013-0001&volume
=057&issue=03&page=0403>

The Witch Trials of Finnmark, Northern Norway, during
the 17th Century:
Evidence for Ergotism as a Contributing Factor
Torbjørn Alma

aDepartment of botany, Tromsø museum, University of
Tromsø, N-9037
Tromsø, Norway

ABSTRACT

During the 17th century, Finnmark suffered the worst
witch trials on
record in Norway; at least 137 persons were tried, and
about two-thirds
were executed. A late 17th century manuscript by
district govenor H. H.
Lilienskiold provides details of 83 trials based on
contemporaneous
sources. More than half of these provide evidence of a
potentially
important role of ergotism in triggering persecutions.
In 42 trials, it
is explicitly stated that witchcraft was “learned” by
consuming it,
usually in the form of bread or other flour products
(17 cases), in milk
or beer (23 cases), or a combination (two cases). In
the cases involving
milk, several witches testifed that some kind of
black, grain-like
objects were found in the drink. Medical symptoms
compatible with
ergotism were recorded in numerous trials, including
gangrene,
convulsions, and hallucinations; the latter often
explicitly stated to
occur after consumption of foodstuffs or drink. The
majority of the
convicted witches were females of Norwegian ethnic
origin, living in
coastal communities where imported flour formed part
of the diet. The
few, largely self-supporting Sámi affected by the
witchcraft trials were
mainly men, convicted, for example, carrying out
traditional shamanic
rituals. All flour available in Finnmark during the
late 17th century
was imported. Rye (Secale cereale), which is
especially prone to ergot
infection, formed a major part of the imported grain.


Keywords: ergotism, Claviceps purpurea, witch trials,
Norway.


Manuscript Received by the Society 18 July 2001
Manuscript Accepted 15 November 2002


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