Daniella Sasseville

Witch Cake

The “witch cake” (a spiky bagel, made of rye and the urine of accused witches) was a catalyst of the Salem witch trials, leading to many deaths, both human and animal. When fed to dogs who were seen as "familiars", it was thought to reveal their owners magic. The cakes may have also caused ergotism (grain fungal poisoning)- explaining convulsions and other "witch" symptoms.