The Girl Who Gave Birth to Rabbits (Book Review)

This book about a true-life scientific enigma might be just the thing formystery lovers. Author Clifford Pickover, Ph.D., an associate editor of Odyssey magazine, details the strange case of Mary Toft who, in October 1726, began giving birth to rabbits. Physicians and the curious came from miles around to witness the act. Her performance was, of course, a hoax. Pickover digresses repeatedly to consider other hoaxes in what is, as he puts it, "a roller-coaster ride through the wild side of science and human nature." What makes Toft's story fascinating is that so many well-educated people were deceived, despite evidence of fraud, and that well-educated people are still vulnerable to this kind of hoax. Don't believe it? Consult your local astrologer, fortune-teller or telepath for proof.

Adapted by Ph.D.