Famous/Best Hoaxes

[Rissask]

Wow....never heard this one before!

Mary Tofts (born c. 1701), also called Mary Toft, was a maidservant from Godalming, England, who in 1726 became the subject of considerable controversy when she hoaxed doctors into believing that she had given birth to at least sixteen rabbits.


Tofts was twenty-five years old and married at the time, and despite a miscarriage in August had still seemed pregnant. She went into apparent labor and the Guildford male-midwife John Howard arrived to assist.


Howard reported that Mary told him she and a friend had been weeding in a field when they saw two rabbits and chased them: the escape of the rabbits created "such a longing" in Mary that she miscarried and from then on could think of nothing but rabbits. Soon, Howard recorded, she began producing parts of animals: a rabbit's liver, the legs of a cat, and, in a single day, nine baby rabbits.



Howard sent letters to some of England's greatest doctors and scientists asking for help investigating the situation, and among those who came to his assistance were Nathaniel St. Andre, surgeon-anatomist to King George I, and Sir Richard Manningham, the most famous obstetrician in London. Tofts gave birth to several more dead rabbits in their presence.



Tofts claimed that during pregnancy she had an intense craving for roast rabbit, that she tried to catch rabbits in the garden, that she had admired them in the village market, and that she had dreamed about rabbits. Based on this testimony, the doctors explained the births as a result of "maternal impressions", contending that a pregnant woman's experiences could be imprinted directly on the fetus at conception and cause birth defects.
In these early days of newspapers, the story became a national sensation.



Lord Onslow told Sir Hans Sloane that it had "almost alarmed England". Rabbit stew and jugged hare disappeared from the dinner table. John Howard lectured to the Royal Society. St André wrote the forty-page pamphlet: A Short Narrative of an Extraordinary Delivery of Rabbets. Mary was brought to London, where she was bombarded with curious doctors and fashionable visitors.



Lord Hervey told Henry Fox that:

Every creature in town, both men and women, have been to see and feel her: the perpetual emotions, noises and rumblings in her Belly are something prodigious; all the eminent physicians, surgeons and man-midwives in London are there Day and Night to watch her next production.

Sir Richard Manningham eventually exposed the birthings as a hoax after a porter admitted smuggling a rabbit into Mary's chamber. Tofts was forced to admit on 7 December 1726 that she had manually inserted dead rabbits into her vagina and then allowed them to be removed as if she were giving birth.

ew ew ew


Mary Tofts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Any favourite hoaxes?

[Buggirl]

Wow- first wiping- now this? And you call us freaks??

[TJordan]

Originally Posted by Buggirl

Wow- first wiping- now this? And you call us freaks??

Ironically I was just thinking the same thing.

[gottago]

i can't help but think about the rumours of richard gere and hamsters... and they were whole and alive!!!

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Buggirl

Wow- first wiping- now this? And you call us freaks??

I was looking for travel information about Godalming, and that came up! What a shocker.

[Mindbender]

Which county is Godalming in?

Surrey.

I said, which county is Godalming in?

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Mindbender

Which county is Godalming in?

Surrey.

I said, which county is Godalming in?

So, tell me Dave- if you had a week and wanted to rent a house through vrbo, which would you choose- Stowe on the Wold, Godalming, Cambridge, Oxford, or other? I need advice.


So- no more hoaxes?

How about the Cottingley Fairies ....always one of my favourites.


Crop circles? Chupacabras?


Milli Vanilli?

[Mindbender]

Originally Posted by Rissask

So, tell me David - if you had a week and wanted to rent a house through vrbo, which would you choose- Stowe on the Wold, Godalming, Cambridge, Oxford, or other? I need advice.

I'd go for Stowe on the Mould from your list, you can easily visit Bath and Oxford from there and the countryside is far more shapely than the East. If you do go to Oxford, go to the Pitt Rivers Museum which is entered through the Natural History museum (check the opening times). The Eagle and Child pub is nearby where Tolkien and 'Lewis Carroll' would meet for a jar and a scribble. Both Googleable.

West Lulworth is listed. It's in Dorset (my home county) which is dripping with history, gorgeous villages, things to do, jurassic coastline, castles, stately homes and gardens, iron age forts, tank museum, fishing harbours, punch and judy on the beach, special events for the grockles (holidaymakers), etc ,etc. However, it's a longer drive with winding roads. Not many foreigners venture down that way, which is a shame because it's a gem.

[Bumper]

It was never intended as a hoax, but what about Orson Welles' radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds? Lots of folks tuned in and were unaware that it was merely a radio drama and thought it was actually taking place.

[Rissask]

War of the Worlds, great one, I never even thought of that one! I am sure at the time it must have been terrifying.

Originally Posted by Mindbender

I'd go for Stowe on the Mould from your list, you can easily visit Bath and Oxford from there and the countryside is far more shapely than the East. If you do go to Oxford, go to the Pitt Rivers Museum which is entered through the Natural History museum (check the opening times). The Eagle and Child pub is nearby where Tolkien and 'Lewis Carroll' would meet for a jar and a scribble. Both Googleable.

West Lulworth is listed. It's in Dorset (my home county) which is dripping with history, gorgeous villages, things to do, jurassic coastline, castles, stately homes and gardens, iron age forts, tank museum, fishing harbours, punch and judy on the beach, special events for the grockles (holidaymakers), etc ,etc. However, it's a longer drive with winding roads. Not many foreign ers venture down that way, which is a shame because it's a gem.

Just saw this again, Dave -thanks so much.

Stowe on the Mould sounds great for a longer term stay; I was there for an afternoon once when Dad and I did an Oxford/Costwolds/Blenheim Palaace tour. I just saw a 2 week airfare for a total of $1492 for the both of us, really good price from here (on an airline called 'globeair'?) and am very tempted to book but will talk to mom in person in 2 weeks and make sure that is where she wants to go. I looked at the easyjet site too- we can fly to Rome from London for about 160 each return amazing. I wanna live in Europe. *pout*
I am not sure where Dorset is but I will be looking it up, it sounds great....too mnay Rosamunde Pilchers but I have always wanted to see Cornwall...another question- if we go for two weeks- where would you go as a side trip for one of the weeks- Ireland, Scotland, Bruges/Belgium or other? Guys here at work say Bruges is wonderful and I can get a huge discount on hotels there (we have offices in Zedelgem ).

[Mindbender]

Dorset is on the South West coast. Keep going West and you'll go through Devon and then Cornwall.

All great counties to visit. Look up the cliffside Minnack Theatre at Porthcurno in Cornwall. Go to Dorset and give my Father a hug from me.

2 weeks is not enough to cover the multitude of things to see and do if you're touring in the West country. But if you're thinking of zooming around, I'd consider going up to the lake district, or Scotland.

The Belgian cities are great too, but I'd do that on a Benelux tour.

[Mindbender]

A Cotswolds special for you:

[Flash]

Here is one from the sports world. "The Curious Case of Sidd Finch"

I was a junior in high school when this came out in SI.

It's a little long, but great nonetheless. Written by the late George Plimpton.

CNNSI.com - SI Online - This Week's Issue of Sports Illustrated - SI Flashback: The Curious Case of Sidd Finch - Wednesday July 26, 2000 09:30 AM

[StewartG]

Originally Posted by Rissask

So, tell me Dave- if you had a week and wanted to rent a house through vrbo, which would you choose- Stowe on the Wold, Godalming, Cambridge, Oxford, or other? I need advice.


So- no more hoaxes?

How about the Cottingley Fairies ....always one of my favourites.


Crop circles? Chupacabras?


Milli Vanilli?

Although David is the native, I would vote Stow on the Wold. Kelli and I have stayed there a couple of times as a base for exploration and it was great and very convenient.

We stayed at a B&B there with a great room the size of an indoor football pitch. The fireplace was almost big enough that you could walk into it! Its been a few years, but I'll try and get the name if you would like.

[StewartG]

Oh, and my favorite hoax?

"Compassionate Conservative!"