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POPULAR MISCELLANY. 



in Instance of Webbed Fingers in Man. 



(Communicated by F. E. Lloyd and F. L. 

 Washburn.) The subject of this sketch, now 

 about twenty-five years of age, was born near 

 Smyrna, Iowa. He now resides in eastern 

 Oregon, and is attending one of the State 

 schools, where, though slow, he is proving 

 himself fairly efficient in some lines of work. 



little finger of each hand are provided with 

 only two movable joints or phalanges. On 

 the fourth finger we find an enlargement at 

 the point where the lower or distal end of 

 the first joint should be. This rigidity, 

 therefore, seems to have been brought about 

 by a growing together or anchylosis of the 

 first and second joints. The first joint or 

 first phalanx of the little finger, however, 

 although equal in length to two normal joints, 

 is perfectly smooth and cylindrical. As if 

 to compensate for this stiffness, the terminal 

 joints of these two fingers can be bent to 

 make a perfect right angle with the longitu- 

 dinal axis of the finger. The toes are also 

 webbed, but not so strikingly as the fingers. 

 All of the following measurements have been 

 made from a line passing through the distal 

 end of the metacarpal bones ; in other words, 



Of large, powerful frame, he is a welcome 

 adjunct on the football field, though ordi- 

 narily awkward in his movements. Accord- 

 ing to his statement, he has never suffered 

 any special inconvenience from the abnormal 

 condition of his hands, and feels disinclined 

 to undergo a surgical operation for their bet- 

 terment. When but a few days old, the 

 webs were cut, but the operation was badly 

 performed, and apparently their growth was 

 not checked. The scars resulting from the 

 operation may yet be seen. An interesting 

 fact to be noted is, that the fourth finger and 



from the point where the bones of each finger 

 unite with those of the hand. A centimetre 

 is practically equivalent to two fifths of an 

 inch. 



To tip of second or index finger. . . 10 - 8 ctm. 

 " " third or middle finger. . . 12 - 4 ctm. 



" " fourth finger 11 "4 ctm. 



To angle of web between second 



and third fingers 7"6 ctm. 



To angle of web between third and 



fourth fingers 5 - 2 ctm. 



To end of first joint of second 



index finger 5 - 7 ctm. 



