Poisons of the Past: Molds, Epidemics, and History

Mary Kilbourne Matossian. Yale University Press, $21 (208pp) ISBN 978-0-300-05121-6

Matossian presents evidence that food poisoning from microfungi in rye bread may have caused widespread hallucinations, low fertility and witch-like behavior during the 14th through the 18th centuries. Illustrated. (Dec.)no PW rev

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