Thousands of women and men in the 14th to 18th centuries were executed by hanging or burning at the stake for being “witches.” While most were accused due to sheer ignorance or rivals framing them to seize their land, there was another factor contributing to the mass hysteria of colonial America’s deadliest witch hunt, the Salem Witch Trials.
In this Massachusetts Bay Colony, victims’ witch-like symptoms — hallucinations, seizures — weren’t caused by black magic coursing through their veins. They were poisoned by bad water and/or food, causing them to trip major balls.
The full story was revealed in a spooky and eye-opening Tumblr post.