Act 1

There are rumors that Betty was flying over the Ingersoll's barn, according to Mrs. Putnam. Their daughter Ruth is also sick, and they assume witchcraft to be the cause. Mrs. Putnam admits that she sent Ruth to Tituba. She believes that Tituba knows how to speak to the dead, and she wished to learn who murdered her seven children during their infancy. Mrs. Putnam thinks Tituba's black magic might be the cause of her daughter's hysterical fever. Really both Betty and Ruth are pretending to be sick to support Abigail's plan and to escape from getting in trouble for their shenanigans in the forest.

why is mrs. putnam so upset that her daughter ruth is sick