Mary Toft (Tofts), who duped several doctors into believing she had given birth to a litter of rabbits: twelve episodes. Etching.
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On Mary Toft see the Dictionary of national biography. She lived at Godalming (Godliman) near Guildford, Surrey. She claimed to have given birth to rabbits after having had a dream about rabbits while pregnant (in accordance with the idea of the influence of maternal imagination). She later stated the births were a hoax, suggested and activated by another woman
Physical description
1 print : etching
Lettering
The doctors in labour; or a new whim wham from Guildford. ...
Lettering continues: "Being a representation of ye frauds by which ye Godliman woman, carried on her pretended rabbit-breeding; also of ye simplicity of our doctors, by which they assisted to carry on that imposture, discover'd their own skills, & contributed to ye mirth of His Majesties liege subjects."
Below each of the twelve episodes is accompanying text
References note
British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. II London 1873, no. 1781
Lisa Cody, '"The doctor's in labour; or a new whim wham from Guildford"', Gender & history, 1992, 4: 175-196
Reference
Wellcome Collection 17343i
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Location Status Access Closed stores