For those who don’t know, I’ve quite an interest in history and in particular the historic application of crime and punishment. Recently during research for a project I’m working on it occurred to me that there were a large number (though nowhere near as larger number as many think) of trials for people accused of witchcraft - some were executed, others put in prison. The thing is, the basis for an allegation of witchcraft was so broad - but essentially you could report anyone who didn’t appear normal to authorities as a witch. This got me thinking, I wonder how many people with sensory, personality or behavioural issues we now know to be traits of autism were accused of witchcraft. Things like a meltdown could easily be perceived as such. It’s not as far fetched as you’d imagine - for example, a woman who gave birth to a baby with deformities in the hands and feet was accused of witchcraft and hanged for her ‘crime’ as it was said she cast a spell to turn her baby’s hands and feet into hooves of a horse so as she could ride the child as a horse! Given this as an example, I would hate to think what they made of autistic traits!
