# Witch Trial -- what happened to the dog??

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-trial-what-happened-to-the-dog/285072>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [January 16, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-trial-what-happened-to-the-dog/285072 "2005-01-16T20:51:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-trial-what-happened-to-the-dog/285072/1 "2005-01-16T20:51:58Z")

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Cecil, man, don’t leave us hanging!

[Here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050114.html) you say:

> [@](#):
>
> After a doctor suggested that the girls might be under supernatural influence, someone proposed baking a “witch cake” containing urine from the girls, which was then fed to a dog as a test for witchcraft. That set the pot boiling.

What is supposed to happen to the dog when he eats the cake to prove this one way or the other? Were any cakes made? Do we have any recipes?

Your faithful cook,  
Lily

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**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-trial-what-happened-to-the-dog/285072/2 "2005-01-16T22:56:40Z")

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> [@LilyoftheValley](#):
>
> Cecil, man, don’t leave us hanging!
> 
> [Here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050114.html) you say:
> 
> What is supposed to happen to the dog when he eats the cake to prove this one way or the other? Were any cakes made? Do we have any recipes?
> 
> Your faithful cook,  
> Lily

The same as happened to the rabbit? :rolleyes:

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-trial-what-happened-to-the-dog/285072/3 "2005-01-17T00:02:41Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> A witch cake is composed of rye meal mixed with urine from the afflicted children. It is then feed to a dog. The person(s) are considered bewitched if the dog displays similar symptoms as the afflicted.

[From here](http://www.salemwitchtrials.com/witchcake.html)

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**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-trial-what-happened-to-the-dog/285072/4 "2005-01-17T00:48:58Z")

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> [@Khadaji](#):
>
> [From here](http://www.salemwitchtrials.com/witchcake.html)

Well, color me embarassed at the obviousness of your url. Thanks.

Hmm…urine, flour…no binders? I’d add an egg, at least.

Perhaps my OP should best be read as: Did this jump out at anyone else as being missing from Cecil’s answer? 😉

By the way, was my OP really deserving of a :rolleyes:?

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-trial-what-happened-to-the-dog/285072/5 "2005-01-17T00:54:05Z")

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> [@LilyoftheValley](#):
>
> Well, color me embarassed at the obviousness of your url. Thanks.
> 
> Hmm…urine, flour…no binders? I’d add an egg, at least.
> 
> Perhaps my OP should best be read as: Did this jump out at anyone else as being missing from Cecil’s answer? 😉
> 
> By the way, was my OP really deserving of a :rolleyes:?

I see no need to be embarassed, nor did I see a reason for the :rolleyes:

I thought it was an interesting question.

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**Author:** ![sagitta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@sagitta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sagitta)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witch-trial-what-happened-to-the-dog/285072/6 "2005-01-17T15:30:55Z")

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She killed her. And her little dog.