1.The Jackalope
Tall tales spoke of a species of “killer rabbits” with deer antlers known as The Jackalope. Many people claimed and believed that the female Jackalope could be milked while asleep and that its milk could be used for medicinal purposes. Jackalopes were believed to efficiently mimic any sound, including the human voice. It has since been established, however, that no such creature exists and that stories of Jackalopes may have been inspired by rabbits infected with the Shope papilloma virus which causes antler-like tumors in various parts of a rabbit’s body.
2.The Piltdown Man
Stories about bone fragments of the fossilised remains of an unidentified early human began circulating in 1915. The fragments were said to have been found in Piltdown, East Sussex and were subsequently named Piltdown Man. The hoax was exposed when it was discovered that the remains were a fabricated combination of the lower jawbone of an orangutan and the skull of a fully developed modern human.
3.Psychic Surgery
In a nutshell, psychic surgery is a supposed surgical procedure involving the use of bare hands. It’s believed the pathological matter causing the disease is removed without the aid of medical equipment and that the incision spontaneously heals. The US Federal Trade Commission has thankfully dismissed Psychic Surgery as a form of medical fraud.