h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In the sixties an alternative theory regarding the Salem witch craft trials and other similar events was put forward by Linnda Caporael. She made a link to a poisoning induced illness called Ergotism - caused by consumption of a fungus growing on grain, particularly rye, a staple of the colonists. This theory explains much more elegantly the facts regarding the symptoms of the girls, the sudden start and decline of the hysteria - remember this was by no means the first time witches had been accused in the area, and the inabilty of many of the accusers and jurors to explain their thoughts and feelings at the time. Many in fact bore great feelings of guilt.

Of course, this relies almost entirely on circumstantial evidence, but this is quite solid in the sense that it accomodates a great deal more of the facts and evidence, and relies less on subsequent interpretations and myth making. The best part is that she was just a student filling in a last subject and just made a great connection - hope for us all. You can read the very concise and interesting orginal essay at http://web.utk.edu/~kstclair/221/ergotism.html