88 Dr John Struthers on Variation in the Number 
man who has a small-sized additional thumb on the left hand. It. 
contains one phalanx, which is attached rather loosely at the end 
of the metacarpal bone, as if by dense tissue and skin, without con- 
nection with the joint. He has no voluntary power over it, but it 
is more sensitive to pain than the greater thumb is. It is over an 
inch in-length, and has a well-formed nail. 
He states that “‘ there is no hereditary tendency in his family to 
such formations,” 
7. For this (and for case 10. of this group) I am indebted to Dr 
Gibson of Campbeltown. M‘M——,, et. 14, Argyleshire, has 
a double thumb on the right hand. The metacarpal bone is much 
larger than its fellow in the left hand. The proximal phalanx is 
double, the two being wrapped in a common investment of skin, 
presenting a broad flattened appearance externally. The distal 
phalanges are separate, with a little space between them. They 
converge again at the points, giving the thumb a lobster’s claw ap- 
pearance. He is able to pick up small objects between the two 
points, and thinks such a thumb rather an acquisition, as in pick- 
ing small things out of his vest pocket. He has the full use of the 
thumb in opposing the fingers. 
He has three brothers and four sisters, none of whom have any 
digital variety. Neither have the father nor mother, nor do they 
know of any such variety in past generations of their families. 
The mother accounts for it from her seeing a man with a double 
thumb when she was pregnant, but says it was not the same kind 
of double thumb. 
8. I am indebted to Dr Henderson of Fordoun for the particulars 
of the case of H—— K , Kincardineshire, zt. 52, who has an 
additional thumb on the right hand. The thumb to the radial side, 
constituting the sixth digit, is considerably smaller and shorter 
than the other, and they are partially webbed. She can move the 
thumbs together so as to hold a pen between them. 
A former child of the mother’s, by a first marriage, had a sixth 
finger on the ulnar side of one hand, but lived only three weeks. 
No previous case is known in the family on either side. The 
mother has no story as to the cause. 
Three Cases (two of them Brothers) presenting an Additional Little 
Finger on one Hand. 
9, Dr Edward Robertson mentions to me also the case of John ~ 
B , et. 5 years, Northumberland, from whom immediately after 
birth he removed a small supernumerary little finger from the left 
hand. A brother, who is now dead, had a similar supernumerary 
finger also on the outer side of the left hand. 
The father and mother have never heard of any such variety in 
their ancestors, or in any relative of the family. 
10. J—— G——, et. 20 months, Argyleshire, has a sixth finger 
loosely attached to the outer side of the little finger of the left 
hand, near the middle of the proximal phalanx, and set at a right 
