EPISODE 109 - Mary Toft and Her Baby Bunnies

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The story of Mary Toft is one of the most bizarre hoaxes in medical history. In 1726, Mary Toft, a peasant woman from Surrey, England, claimed to have given birth to rabbits. She convinced local doctors by presenting them with various animal parts, claiming they emerged during her labor. News of this strange phenomenon spread, and prominent physicians, including the king's surgeon Nathaniel St. André, came to investigate.

Initially, many medical professionals believed her claims, attributing the phenomenon to "maternal impression," a then-popular theory suggesting that a mother's experiences could physically affect her unborn child. However, suspicions grew as more physicians examined her and the circumstances of her alleged births.

The hoax was eventually exposed when Toft confessed under pressure. She admitted to inserting dead rabbits and other animal parts into her body, which she later pretended to give birth to. The story caused a scandal, humiliating the medical community and serving as a cautionary tale about gullibility and the importance of scientific skepticism.

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