 In 1726 Toft became pregnant , but following her reported fascination with the sighting of a rabbit , she miscarried . Her claim to have given birth to various animal parts prompted the arrival of John Howard , a local surgeon , who investigated the matter . He delivered several pieces of animal flesh and duly notified other prominent physicians , which brought the case to the attention of Nathaniel St. André , surgeon to the Royal Household of King George I. St. André concluded that Toft 's case was genuine but the king also sent surgeon Cyriacus Ahlers , who remained sceptical . By then quite famous , Toft was brought to London and studied at length , where under intense scrutiny and producing no more rabbits she confessed to the hoax , and was subsequently imprisoned as a fraud . 
