![]() ![]() Failing to follow the patterns of interaction seen in ordinary witchcraft cases, they were difficult to explain at the time and have puzzled historians ever since. Therefore, the events that began at Salem Village, Massachusetts Colony, in the 1690s, leading to accusations in several towns and the series of trials at Salem, are unique in the annals of Anglo-American law. Such cases rarely extended beyond a single family and one or two accused. They loom large in the historiography because some cases were publicized and disputed at the time. Accordingly, I trawled through the primary material to find out just how often the distinction arose, and what influence such discussion might have had, First two paragraphs follow below In England, accusations of witchcraft involving extreme psychological symptoms were rare, by comparison with those concerning physical illness. A quick search through the literature indicated that this was a general problem. ![]() The term "possession," as I had noticed in other works on Salem, was used as if there was no ontological or etiological difference from extreme forms of bewitchment. This essay was provoked by my reading a excellent book on Salem by Bernard Rosenthal. ![]()
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