The Saturday briefing

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

- by CAROLINE FORD

Is there anything you're yearning to know? Send your questions, on any subject, to the contacts given below, and we will do our best to answer them...

I was brought up in Surrey and vaguely remember a story about a local woman who gave birth to about 11 rabbits. What is the truth?

Tim Newbigin,Godalming, Surrey

As unlikely as it seems, in the early 1700s much of Britain was caught up in the bizarre and disturbing case of a 25-year-old woman from Surrey, who claimed to have given birth to rabbits.

The tale hoodwinked nobility and cost the careers of gullible or possibly “culpable” medics.

It centred on Mart Toft, from Godalming, whose miscarriage in August 1726 was said to have set off a chain of events that reached the court of King George I.

A month after the miscarriage, which was reported to be “not human”, Mary went into “labour” again, with obstetrician John Howard confirming he “delivered” cat, rabbit and eel parts. She then “gave birth” to nine dead rabbits.

Howard contacted eminent medics and scientists — including the king’s secretary — offering to display the curiosities for money.

King George sent his personal physician, Nathaniel St Andre, to see Mary, who was by now becoming a celebrity. When he arrived, Mary was said to be in labour with her 15th rabbit.

Certain the births were genuine and of supernatural origin, St Andre took specimens to London.