30 A NEW TYPE OF BRACHYPHALANGY IN MAN. 



the same bone on the left hand. This part of the radiograph is not very- 

 good and it is hard to tell how much importance should be attributed 

 to this irregularity. It is the only case in our material where a bone 

 in addition to the second phalanx of the index or the second toe is 

 shortened. The fact that the corresponding bone of the left hand 

 shows the normal length, in connection with the sHght degree of the 

 shortening, makes it doubtful whether this shortening ought to be 

 regarded as a part of the brachyphalangy or merely as a variation due 

 to other causes. 



The symmetry of the brachyphalangy of the indices is very pro- 

 nounced. The lengths of II 2 and IV 2 are respectively 5 and 29 mm. 

 on the right hand, 5 and 28 mm. on the left. 



115.4 cf M. H., who is genetically heterozygous for the factor for 

 brachyphalangy, married the normal H. G. (b. May 16, 1887), a sister of 

 J. G., the wife of his brother 115.3. They had onedaughter 1154.1 (p.34). 



115.5 d^ H. M. H. (b. Feb. 11, 1879), bailiff. All of the second-hand 

 information concerning this man agrees in indicating that he had 

 normal hands. His brothers had not observed any malformation of 

 his indices. We knew, however, that he had two small daughters — 

 twins — ^who both were brachyphalangous, and when we wrote to him 

 he answered that ''the second phalanx of both the index fingers seems 

 to be somewhat shortened." We have not so far had the opportunity 

 of personally examining or procuring radiographs of his hands because 

 he lives in a distant community, but the photographs (figs. 8 and 9) 

 give a good idea of the malformation. 



We are dealing with a clear case of the B-type of brachyphalangy. 

 Seen from the back of the hands the shortening is not very conspicuous 

 and might easily be overlooked. The indices are only a little shorter 

 than in a normal hand and the second phalanx is a little narrower 

 than it is in a normal finger. This makes the terminal phalanx look 

 as if it were somewhat club-shaped and thickened. The shortness of 

 the second phalanx is far more strikingly seen in fig. 9, showing the 

 inside of the hands. The distance between the two distal grooves is 

 considerably shorter on the indices than on the fourth fingers. The 

 shortening seems to be strongly symmetrical. 



This individual is genetically heterozygous for the factor for brachy- 

 phalangy. He married the normal D. K. (b. Nov. 39, 1879) and has 3 

 children, the two younger being identical twins, 11 55. 1-1 155.3 (pp.34-35). 



115.6 cf C. S. H. (b. Nov. 19, 1880), farmer. Photographs of his 

 hands are given in fig. 10. They need no special description, the fingers 

 being very like those of his father, 11.5 cf , and of the brother, 115.4 cf , 

 already described. On the left index the shortened second phalanx 

 (dislocated as usual to the ulnar part of the joint formed by the first 

 and third) is seen to form a little projection on the left side of the 

 finger. 



