Mary Toft | |
|---|---|
 Mary Toft, in an engraving based on a painting by John Laguerre in 1726 | |
| Born | Mary Denyer c. 1701 |
| Died | 1763 (aged 62) |
| Nationality | English/British |
| Known for | Medical hoax |
Mary Toft (née Denyer) (c. 1701–1763), also calledMary Tofts, was an English woman fromGodalming,Surrey. In 1726 she tricked doctors into believing that she had given birth torabbits. She became famous, and was taken toLondon. There she was examined by royaldoctors. Later she confessed, and was sent toprison.
Toft became pregnant in 1726, but latermiscarried. She had developed a strong interest in a rabbit she had seen while working, and claimed to have given birth to parts of animals. Localsurgeon John Howard was called to see if it was true, and upon delivering several animal parts he told other important doctors. The event came to the attention ofNathaniel St. André, surgeon to theRoyal Household of KingGeorge I of Great Britain. St. André checked further into the event and decided that Toft was telling the truth. The king also sent surgeonCyriacus Ahlers to see Toft, but Ahlers did not believe it. By now quite famous, Toft was brought to London and was studied at length. She was watched closely. She produced no more rabbits, and eventually confessed to thehoax and was sent toprison as afraud.
The public learned of the fact that the doctors had been fooled, and this created panic in the medical profession. Several important surgeons'careers were ruined.Pamphlets were published which made fun of the doctors, andWilliam Hogarth was very critical of the profession. Toft was eventually released without charge and returned to her home.