(2) A more or less developed organ, free at its extremity, and
articulating with the head or sides of a metacarpal, metatarsal,
or phalangeal bone.
(3) A fully developed separate digit.
(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.
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