In 18th century England, Mary Toft defied all medical odds when she started giving birth to rabbits. 

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When the plague broke out again in the late 19th century, scientists dissected buboes, bodies, and fleas… and found the source of the Black Death. The disease had already killed millions throughout Europe and Asia. In 1900, it reached San Francisco.

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It was one of the most lethal pandemics in global history. The bubonic plague’s devastating spread in 6th and 14th century Europe paved the way for how we handle outbreaks today — though patients in medieval times saw no sign of a cure. 

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In July 2013, a 12-year-old girl from Arkansas was diagnosed with a rare and deadly brain-eating amoeba known as Naegleria fowleri. Her exposure came from a local water park, but brain-eating amoebas are lurking everywhere — including our own faucets.

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Progeria is a rare disorder that causes children's bodies to age and deteriorate quickly. Those with the condition have a life expectancy of 13 years. We follow the journey of one patient, Hayley Okines, who dedicated her short life to helping others battle the disease.

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For these patients, rooms shrink, bodies grow disproportionately large, and objects appear farther than they are. Many believe author Lewis Carroll had this condition, and that it inspired the classic tale for which the syndrome was named. 

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Modern day researchers are still trying to explain what happened in 17th century Salem. Many have blamed the event on mass hysteria, but one doctor points to an outbreak of a fungus called ergot — the same organism used to create LSD.

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In 17th century Massachusetts, three young girls experienced strange symptoms –– prickling of the skin, convulsions and trance-like states. Before long, dozens were complaining of the same ailments, and accusations of witchcraft started to emerge.

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This psychological condition, also known as "Walking Corpse Syndrome" causes people to suffer from disturbing delusions. Many feel that their bodies are void of blood or organs, while other patients are convinced they're dead and stuck in the world of the living.

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The earliest description comes from a 16th century British pamphlet, featuring a Welsh widow with a four-inch-long growth protruding out of her forehead. Cutaneous horns were originally regarded as divine punishment, or a spectacle to be paraded around. In more recent decades, doctors have worked to understand the variety of decidedly less supernatural causes. 

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In the wake of 9/11, one man’s exposure to a rare and deadly illness sparked widespread panic in the U.S. On September 19th, Bob Stevens opened a letter containing a strange white powder. A week later, he was fighting for his life as a victim of a biological weapon. It left many wondering who was responsible… and would they be next? 

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