108 Dr John Struthers on Variation in the Number 
the number of the digits appears to be a much less frequent 
variation than increase, both in man and in mammals 
generally, although many mammals have normally less 
than five. Among these the occurrence of an additional 
digit is generally but the development of the concealed 
rudiment of a suppressed digit. In man, although he nor- 
mally possesses the full mammalian number, the tendency 
is to farther increase rather than to decrease in the number. 
Variation in the Number of Phalanges.—In this group of 
cases there was diminution of the number of phalanges in 
four cases, in none of which was it hereditary, although one 
of the cases embraces two brothers and a sister.* 
From cases 23, 24 and 25, in which the fingers were 
more or less rudimentary, while the thumb was either not 
at all or less reduced, it would seem as if the thumb were 
the last to suffer reduction. Two cases have been men- 
tioned to me, however, although I have not seen them, in 
which the thumb alone is wanting, in one of the cases on 
both hands. Homologically considered, we would expect 
* See a case of hereditary transmission of deficient phalanx by Alf. Robert, 
mentioned in an able paper by Mr Sedgwick ‘‘ On the Influence of Sex in the 
Hereditary Transmission of Disease” (Brit. and Foreign Med. Chir. Review, 
’ April 1863). Also a case by Dr Kellie of Leith (din. Med. and Surg. Journal, 
1808, p. 252) ; but the mother’s statement that it had been transmitted for ten 
generations must be received with caution, when we consider what ten genera- 
tions implies. Among the more interesting cases of hereditary transmission 
of increased number of digits on record are—The case of the Maltese family, 
by Commander Godehew (Mémoires de lV Académie Royale des Sciences, 1751), 
more fully related by Reaumur (L’ Art de faire eclorre et d’elever des Oiseaua 
Domestiques, tom. ii. p. 877): The case by Sir A. Carlisle (Philosophical Trans- 
actions, London 1814, p. 94): A case by Dr Crawford of Peebles (Hdinburgh 
Monthly Journal of Medical Science, Oct. 1851, p. 856): A case by Mr J. B. 
Thomson of Perth (Edin. Medical Journal, 1858-59, p. 502) ; and a case noticed 
in ‘“‘ Medical Times and Gazette,’’ Dec. 20, 1860, from the ‘“* American Medical 
Times,” possibly a branch of the family whose case is related by Sir A. — 
Carlisle. On this subject may be also consulted, Haller (Hlementa Physiologie, 
t. viii. pp. 97, 98, 99, 1766): Morand (Mem. de l’Acad. dee Sciences, 1770): 
Isodore Geoffroy St-Hilaire (Histoire Générale et Particulicre des Anomalies de 
l’ Organisation, 1882-386): and A. W. Otto (Monstrorum Sexcentorum Descriptio 
Anatomica, 1841). The oldest recorded case is that of one of the sons of the 
giant of Gath (2 Samuel, ch. xxi., v. 20; and 1 Chronicles, ch. xx., v. 6) who 
had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. Pliny notices two 
cases, among the Romans, of six fingers on each hand (XI. Book, ch. 48). | 
Anne Boleyn is said to have had six fingers on each hand. 
