Ergot poisoning does not choose its victims, nor is it few and far between. When one part of a field has ergot, it is likely that all of that field will have ergot. In the same manner, if two or three girls in Salem had hallucinations and unnatural twisting of their bodies, so should everyone else.
Another somewhat "old" theory is that the girls were truly bewitched by different women in Salem. During this time in American history the people believed very much in the idea of Satan and his powers to possess. Not many people would admit to taking part in such black magic, or even the "white" magic, which was fortune telling and palm reading. In his article "Salem Witchcraft," Tim Sutter says that the parents of the girls first tried to take them to a physical doctor, but the doctor could not find any physical cause for their strange behavior and concluded the girls bewitched. The people of Salem literally feared witchcraft and believed that it was quite possible to become bewitched. The rumors ran quickly and before long the people of Salem believed that the girls were possessed by evil spirits or the devil himself. This theory has been thrown out by many who now realize how unrealistic this idea is. Many today practice and believe in witchcraft just as the people in Salem did in 1692. Many of the ones who follow it today are the only remaining believers of the "bewitched" theory of Salem. This theory is based too much on creed and religion which may not appeal to many. This idea is very hard to believe or prove true, which is why it is very unlikely to be the cause of the Salem Witch Trials. .
The most apparent explanation of all these differing theories is that the girls were victims of conversion hysteria. The two girls that first became ill were somewhat odd characters who grew up in a bitter era with strict rules. However, these girls loved hearing of Satan and taking part in rituals held with their friends.
