Archives at Cornell

Poem and song about the "Rabbit Woman"

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: 4700-0009

Scope and content

Manuscript copies of two printed items: St. A--d--é's miscarriage, or, A full and true account of the rabbet-woman (London: Printed for E. Nutt, etc., 1727), a song to be sung to the tune of The abbot of Canterbury (music not included); and A shorter and truer advertisement by way of supplement, to what was published the 7th instant: or, Dr. D--s--l--s in an extasy at Lacey's Bagnio, December the 4th, 1726 (London, 1727).

Dates

1727.

Biographical / Historical

Mary Toft (1703-1763) became known as the Rabbit Woman of Godalming for claiming to have given birth to a number of rabbits and rabbit parts. Several prominent surgeons believed her story, and the case became famous. Eventually it was exposed as a hoax, and the gullible surgeons' careers were ruined. The affair was much satirized, notably by William Hogarth.