Talk:Great Fear

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[edit] Hallucinogenic mould?

Is there any documentation or reference for the assertion in the last paragraph about hallucinogenic mould causing the Great Fear? It sounds highly improbable, so some decent referencing would put my skepticism to rest. --Iacobus 03:40, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

I don't have documentation, and the passage wasn't mine, but it doesn't strike me as entirely improbable. In times of partial famine well into the modern era, it was common for people to eat grains that may have contained ergot, which can be a pretty serious hallucinogen. (but, reading the passage, it is vague and could use citation.) - Jmabel | Talk 05:27, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

That last paragraph is totally insane. How could consuming a hallucinogenic substance have produced an effect with enough uniformity to constitue an identifiable historical event? I've removed it.

In the absence of any references, certainly a wise move, O anonymous 86.20.63.202. I have removed verification notification. --Iacobus 00:43, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

Fine, but have a look at Dancing mania; also at [1], which suggests that something similar may have been behind the Salem Witch Trials. [2] (PDF) refers, but too vaguely, to a contemporary account of ergot infestation of the rye crop in 1789. And here's something, also probably not quite an adequate citation, on the web site of Professor Anna Marie Roos. Not that it should be restored without a good citation, merely that the claim is not "totally insane". - Jmabel | Talk 00:48, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

I distance myself from the "totally insane" remark as being unparliamentary language (in the context). "Undocumented" is as strong as I would go. :-)--Iacobus 06:50, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Actually, there are various recorded historical instances of mass mania that have been put down, by modern historians, to ergotism. Ergot is a fungus (not "mushroom"!) which grows on grain, particularly rye. It was known about at the time, and during a good harvest, blighted grains would be thrown away (at least from human food). Ergot is easily identifiable, a sort-of horny dark growth on food grains.

It's been suggested that during hard times, peasants would have no choice but to throw the infected grains in with the rest. Ergot is the reason LSD is named so, lysergic (from hydrolysis of ergot) acid diethylamide. Ergot itself contains lysergic acid, and can cause psychedelic trips. So it's certainly very possible.

I've just looked up Ergot. It's in the wikipedia!

Greenaum 81.101.58.131 08:20, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Chronology

I'll see if I can get a map together --Mjs110 10:47, 15 December 2006 (UTC)