22. The history of the Salem Witch Trials is a solemn story. Of the twenty victims were found guilty of witchcraft, how many were burned at the stake?
From Quiz Famous Dates in US History
Answer:
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The twenty convicted 'witches' were hanged. The Salem Witch Trials were, according to one observer, "The nation's most notorious cases of mass hysteria (and)... as a vivid cautionary tale about the dangers of isolationism, religious extremism, false accusations, and lapses in due process." The so-called victims would writhe on the floor, appear to be having a fit accompanied by shrieking and screaming. The blame fell mostly upon social isolates in the community for casting 'spells'.
A 1976 "Science Magazine" article suggested that the fungus ergot (found in rye, wheat and other cereals) can cause symptoms such as delusions, vomiting and muscle spasms. This may in some respect explain the 'spells', although historians discount it.