It is an unfortunate practice in our society to look for something or someone to blame for our mistakes. There was nothing behind the "witch" accusations except the ugly side of man's nature. If you have ever lived in a small New England town you know what I mean. In 1692 that, coupled with lack of respect for life, resulted in carrying hate to the extreme. Obviously we are as capable of the same thing today. The only way to prevent it is to be aware of that. What happened in Salem was a scene in the human tragedy that must be a lesson to all. The commercialization of witchcraft in the City of Salem is truly offensive. Would you tolerate a similar use of Buchenwald? The only difference is a matter of scale. The lesson is lost on Salem. Anyone who allows anger or hate to rule his or her life is reinforcing the weakness in man's nature that was demonstrated in Salem in 1692. Charles D. Bond ---------- : From: J. Lindblom <[email protected]> : To: [email protected] : Subject: [SALEM-WITCH-L] Ergot~ Salem Witch Trials - Hallucigins? : Date: Friday, April 23, 1999 10:34 AM : : Ergot [Clavicep purpurea] has had some historical usage, including the : induction of labor contractions in medieval midwifery. It was a common bread : mold contaminant in the middle ages [Rye Smut] which would produce : circulatory disturbances and gangrene of the extremities ["St. Anthony's : Fire"]. Ergot is used in modern medicine usually combined with caffeine as a : treatment for migraine headache [Cafergot]. Several of their immediate : derivatives possess remarkable antibiotic activity [Agroclavine, : festuclavine]. : : Eich E, et al. Clavines as Antitumor Agents: Natural : 8-Hydroxymethyl-ergoline Type Clavines and Their Derivatives. Planta Medica : 1986; 5: 290-4 : Eich E, Eichber D, Muller W. Clavines: New Antibiotics with Cytostatic : Activity. Biochemic Pharmacology 1984; 33(4): 523-6 : http://www.healthy.net/library/journals/naturopathic/vol1no1/news/clavines.h : tm : : : Ergot is a fungus parasite of the heads of grasses. In mid- to late-summer, : entire grains are replaced by the black, hardened bodies of the fungus. : Class of Signs: Behavioral changes, lameness, abortions, convulsions, : gangrene, death. : http://vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/cover1.htm :