A CASE OF HEREDITARY BRACHYPHALANGY 291 
Karen Hansen, has stated that her child lacks a joint in each finger. 
The fingers of Hans Olsen, upon whom she has fathered her child, 
-exhibit the same abnormality. The evidence in the case being weak, 
it has been thought possible that the resemblance with regard to the 
said abnormality between the child and the man upon whom it has. 
been fathered might be of conclusive importance». 
As medical expert named by the court I have carried out the 
following investigations: 
1. Personal examination of the hands and feet of Mr. Hans Olsen 
including the taking of photographs and radiographs of his hands 
and feet. 
2. .Examination of photographs of Karen Hansen’s hands and 
radiographs of her hands and feet. 
3. Examination of photographs of the hands of Karen Hansen's 
son Ole Kristian and of radiographs of his hands and feet. 
With regard to Karen Hansen and her son the material mentioned 
was, at my demand, obtained through the court. The radiographs 
were taken by Dr. HoLMBOE, Mesnalien. 
4. Personal examination of Anna Olsen, the mother of Hans 
Olsen. 
I have also, partly through the court, partly through direct appli- 
cation, obtained information regarding the relationships of the per- 
sons involved in the case. The more important part of this informa- 
tion is quoted below. 
Hans Olsen was born at Christiania Feb. 19, 1899 as an illegitimate 
child of Anna Olsen, born 1861 at Hovland in Berg. The father was, 
according to the register of the parish of Uranienborg »Kristian John- 
sen, travelling agent, resident in Sweden». Hans was twin brother 
to Peder, who died immediately after birth and who accordingly en- 
tered in the register previously to Hans. The father of Peder is called 
»Kristian Jonsson, sailor, residence unknown». Hans Olsen has no 
living brothers and sisters. 
The examination of Hans Olsen proves that his hands and feet 
are markedly deformed. The fingers from the index to the fifth are 
shortened, a shortening which on the second, third and fifth finger 
is so pronounced that these fingers seen from the volar surface show 
only two grooves in stead of the normal three (Fig. 1 and 2). . 
The radiographs (Fig. 3) prove that the shortening is due to a 
malformation of the second row of finger bones in the fingers from 
the index to the fifth. The second finger bone is in the index finger 
