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（4） A digit intimately united along its whole length with another digit； and having either an additional metacarpal or metatarsal bone of its own； or articulating with the head of one which is common to it and another digit。
Superstitions relative to supernumerary fingers have long been prevalent。 In the days of the ancient Chaldeans it was for those of royal birth especially that divinations relative to extra digits were cast。 Among the ancients we also occasionally see illustrations emblematic of wisdom in an individual with many fingers； or rather double hands； on each arm。
Hutchinson； in his comments on a short…limbed； polydactylous dwarf which was dissected by Ruysch； the celebrated Amsterdam anatomist； writes as follows。
〃This quaint figure is copied from Theodore Kerckring's 'Spicilegium Anatomicum；' published in Amsterdam in 1670。 The description states that the body was that of an infant found drowned in the river on October 16； 1668。 It was dissected by the renowned Ruysch。 A detailed description of the skeleton is given。 My reason for now reproducing the plate is that it offers an important item of evidence in reference to the development of short…limbed dwarfs。 Although we must not place too much reliance on the accuracy of the draughtsman； since he has figured some superfluous lumbar vertebrae； yet there can be no doubt that the limbs are much too short for the trunk and head。 This remark especially applies to the lower limbs and pelvis。 These are exactly like those of the Norwich dwarf and of the skeleton in the Heidelberg Museum which I described in a recent number of the 'Archives。' The point of extreme interest in the present case is that this dwarfing of the limbs is associated with polydactylism。 Both the hands have seven digits。 The right foot has eight and the left nine。 The conditions are not exactly symmetrical； since in some instances a metacarpal or metatarsal bone is wanting； or； to put it otherwise； two are welded together。 It will be seen that the upper extremities are so short that the tips of the digits will only just touch the iliac crests。
〃This occurrence of short limbs with polydactylism seems to prove conclusively that the condition may be due to a modification of development of a totally different nature from rickets。 It is probable that the infant was not at full term。 Among the points which the author has noticed in his description are that the fontanelle was double its usual size； that the orbits were somewhat deformed； that the two halves of the lower jaw were already united； and that the ribs were short and badly formed。 He also； of course； draws attention to the shortness of the limbs； the stoutness of the long bones； and the supernumerary digits。 I find no statement that the skeleton was deposited in any museum； but it is very possible that it is still in existence in Amsterdam； and if so it is very desirable that it should be more exactly described；〃
In Figure 126； A represents division of thumb after Guyot…Daubes； shows a typical case of supernumerary fingers； and C pictures Morand's case of duplication of several toes。
Forster gives a sketch of a hand with nine fingers and a foot with nine toes。 Voight records an instance of 13 fingers on each hand and 12 toes on each foot。 Saviard saw an infant at the Hotel…Dieu in Paris in 1687 which had 40 digits； ten on each member。 Annandale relates the history of a woman who had six fingers and two thumbs on each hand； and another who had eight toes on one foot。
Meckel tells of a case in which a man had 12 fingers and 12 toes； all well formed； and whose children and grandchildren inherited the deformity。 Mason has seen nine toes on the left foot。 There is recorded the account of a child who had 12 toes and six fingers on each hand； one fractured。 Braid describes talipes varus in a child of a few months who had ten toes。 There is also on record a collection of cases of from seven to ten fingers on each hand and from seven to ten toes on each foot。 Scherer gives an illustration of a female infant； otherwise normally formed； with seven fingers on each hand； all united and bearing claw…like nails。 On each foot there was a double halux and five other digits； some of which were webbed。
The influence of heredity on this anomaly is well demonstrated。 Reaumur was one of the first to prove this； as shown by the Kelleia family of Malta； and there have been many corroboratory instances reported； it is shown to last for three； four； and even five generations； intermarriage with normal persons finally eradicates it。
It is particularly in places where consanguineous marriages are prevalent that supernumerary digits persist in a family。 The family of Foldi in the tribe of Hyabites living in Arabia are very numerous and confine their marriages to their tribe。 They all have 24 digits； and infants born with the normal number are sacrificed as being the offspring of adultery。 The inhabitants of the village of Eycaux in France； at the end of the last century； had nearly all supernumerary digits either on the hands or feet。 Being isolated in an inaccessible and mountainous region； they had for many years intermarried and thus perpetuated the anomaly。 Communication being opened； they emigrated or married strangers and the sexdigitism vanished。 Maupertuis recalls the history of a family living in Berlin whose members had 24 digits for many generations。 One of them being presented with a normal infant refused to acknowledge it。 There is an instance in the Western United States in which supernumerary digits have lasted through five generations。 Cameron speaks of two children in the same family who were polydactylic； though not having the same number of supernumerary fingers。
Smith and Norwell report the case of a boy of fifteen both of whose hands showed webbing of the middle and ring fingers and accessory nodules of bone between the metacarpals； and six toes on each foot。 The boy's father showed similar malformations； and in five generations 21 out of 28 individuals were thus malformed； ten females and 11 males。 The deformity was especially transmitted in the female line。
Instances of supernumerary thumbs are cited by Panaroli； Ephemerides； Munconys； as well as in numerous journals since。 This anomaly is not confined to man alone； apes； dogs； and other lower animals possess it。 Bucephalus； the celebrated horse of Alexander； and the horse of Caesar were said to have been cloven…hoofed。
Hypertrophy of the digits is the result of many different processes； and true hypertrophy or gigantism must be differentiated from acromegaly； elephantiasis； leontiasis； and arthritis deformans； for which distinction the reader is referred to an article by Park。 Park also calls attention to the difference between acquired gigantism； particularly of the finger and toes； and another condition of congenital gigantism； in which either after or before birth there is a relatively disproportionate； sometimes enormous； overgrowth of perhaps one finger or two； perhaps of a limited portion of a hand or foot； or possibly of a part of one of the limbs。 The best collection of this kind of specimens is in the College of Surgeons in London。
Curling quotes a most pe