A new series! The Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library has an absolutely astonishing collection of old prints and drawings, all to do with medical matters. There are exquisite anatomical drawings, drawings of hospitals, and the like, but I won’t be posting those. There are wonderfully satirical prints, interesting characters, and depictions of certain maladies, etc., of which, many tickle my fancy. We’ll start with Mary Tofts, who drew a great deal of attention, from on high to low in her day, for giving birth to rabbits. (All images, click for full size.)
![Mary Tofts of Godelman the pretended Rabbit Breeder, mezzotint, John Laguerre, c. 1726.](https://i1.wp.com/freethoughtblogs.com/affinity/files/2018/05/MaryToft.jpg?resize=1145%2C1600&ssl=1)
Mary Tofts of Godelman the pretended Rabbit Breeder, mezzotint, John Laguerre, c. 1726.
Moving on to…head stones! :D
![Loopt loopt met groot... [Operation for Stones in the Head], Laid, Claes (Nicolas) Jansz Weydtmans.](https://i2.wp.com/freethoughtblogs.com/affinity/files/2018/05/HeadStones.jpg?resize=1337%2C1600&ssl=1)
Loopt loopt met groot… [Operation for Stones in the Head], Laid, Claes (Nicolas) Jansz Weydtmans.
Finally, we have a scary look at Elephantiasis, [Warning: A very graphic photo at that link.] a most dread disease back in the day. Note that the woman depicted has 6 toes on each foot.
I’m always happy when something odd connects me to Hieronymous Bosch, and I had been completely unaware of this particular painting. As always, there’s just so much to see.
Coincidentally I have just been listening to a radio programme (The Unbelievable Truth) where Mary Toft was mentioned in passing.
Serendipity. It’s amazing, all the attention and time she garnered; royalty was fascinated with her, and several physicians lost their credibility and livelihood over her. It’s also interesting on the skepticism front, with one particular stalwart skeptic.
The ‘doctors’ in the Bosch remind me of the Scarecrow, Tinman and Cowardly Lion. I think because of the funnel.
I’d never heard of Mary Tofts. That seems a very sad story.
A funnel was often used to depict a charlatan or quack, it was used as a sort of dunce cap.
Mary Toft appears to have been from Innsmouth.