In October 1726, Mary Toft--a 26-year-old woman living in a village in Surrey, England--supposedly started giving birth to dead rabbits (or, more specifically, pieces of dead rabbits), triggering one of the greatest medical mysteries in history. "Why should we care today about a poor eighteenth-century girl who gave birth to rabbits and other monstrous misfits? . . . The answer is that Mary's story contains timeless themes: justice and morality, crime and punishment, and science and superstition separated by the flimsiest of curtains. Her true story also involves sex, money, ambition, scapegoats, jealousy, and scandal involving the leaders of nations. Indeed, Mary's story touches on humankinds' [sic] greeds and basic fears."

John Howard, who had practiced midwifery and surgery in the area for 30 years, was convinced that Mary was truly birthing rabbits. He even delivered some himself. The news quickly spread across London, and at the request of King George I, court anatomist Nathanael St. Andre went to investigate. He, too, believed that he was delivering rabbits from Mary.

Other medical men were called in, but they were skeptical. Meanwhile, the media was having a field day reporting the strange goings-on. A fascinated public gobbled up the news and started rumors of their own. Some of the people involved started writing bestselling books on the case.

Mary was moved to London and put under constant surveillance. Doctors, scientists, and lecherous noblemen came from all over to investigate her. It was eventually revealed as a sham, of course, with shattered reputations and a jail term for Mary following in the wake.