The Tale of Mary Toft: The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits

In 1726, Mary Toft, an Englishwoman from Surrey, claimed to have given birth to rabbits. This astonishing claim drew the attention of several doctors, including the royal physician. Toft convinced them by producing parts of rabbits during labor, leading to widespread belief in her story. It was later revealed that Toft had inserted the rabbit parts into her body and expelled them during labor, a hoax that shocked and embarrassed the medical community.

The incident exposed the gullibility of some physicians and highlighted the need for scientific rigor in medical examinations. Mary Toft’s tale remains one of history’s most bizarre medical hoaxes.