24 
Congenital Anomalies in a Native Afncati Race 
He however does not mention polythelia and polymazia nor helical fistula. 
I should be very interested to learn if this last insignificant anomaly was looked 
for. There is no doubt that one of them, helical fistula, occurs with a frequency 
in Nyasaland which cannot be rivalled by any other among peoples of any race. 
I think one may also say with certainty that the incidence of others (shortened 
4th metatarsal and polydactylism) in this country is far in excess of that among 
Europeans, though probably much about the same as in Egypt. 
Upon what h3'pothesis can these facts be explained ? Is there a single cause 
or are there many at work ? These are questions which I shall not attempt to 
enter into, but by simply recording my observations I shall hope to stimulate 
others to do the same, for only by accumulating facts can it be hoped that such 
problems will ever be solved. 
