After mentioning the main data of literature concerning the subject, the Author reports on the result of some research directed to establish the distribution of antigenes of the Kidd system in the population resident in the region of Latium.

This research has allowed to establish, in 110 individuals examined the presence of the following percentages; Jk (a+) 76.36%; Jk (a—) 23.64%.

The Author calculates further on the relative genie and genotypie incidence and finally calls the attention on the importance of the antigenes of the Kidd system from the forensic-medical point of view for the surveys directed to ascertain the ratio in relationship.

Data are presented concerning the distribution of the ABO, MN and Rh blood groups and the saliva AB-secretion in the endogameous population of Ivád (Ivády family). Although a greater frequency of the A-, M-, and D-genes was observable, the differences between the Ivády family and the surrounding populations from where the family originated, were not significant. Isoagglutinin and bacterial agglutinin titres showed a narrower variation at Ivád than in Budapest. No agammaglobulinaemia or a higher frequency of Rhesus isoimmunization was observable. The most prominent feature of the Ivády isolate was the conservation of the original gene frequencies. The effect of random genetic drift or of selection was not demonstrable as far as the genes investigated are concerned.

The dermatoglyphics of 100 mongol patients from Switzerland were investigated. The results are as follows:

1. Worls and arches are more scarce than in normal persons of the European races: 23.7% whorls, 1.0%. arches.

2. The very numerous loops (75.3% are frequently steep and narrow, the ridges tender or dissolved into pearls. Strong ridges often seem to be dismembered.

3. The ridges of the hands in the distal region want of swing and appear tightly stretched. The main line index (Cummins) reaches 10.15, the highest value so far found.

4. The patterns in the balls of the hands are much more numerous than in normal Europeans. The hypothenar pattern is sometimes extremely extended.

5. The axial triradius t”, rare in normal persons, is manifested in 80.0%.

6. The three and five-finger furrows are in nearly 60.0% changed and form more or less clear a four-finger or ape-furrow.

7. In spite of the distinctness of these characters it is not advisable to found the diagnosis of mongolism on them alone; clinical characters are necessary at all events.

6 pictures represent the various forms.

The Authors study the distribution of the various classes of Arneth's formula in 39 healthy MZ pairs, 38 healthy DZ pairs, 10 MZ pairs with non-concordant disease.

They conclude that borh genetic and pathologic factors are relevant in the determination of the formula, and they will try to establish the importance of each factor through a further study on a group of DZ pairs with non-concordant disease.

A case of Niemann-Pick disease is reported. This is the fourth described in Italian literature and diagnosed during life. In this case hereditary transmission in homozigous individual is admitted; it is uncertain whether the character behaves as semidominant or recessive.

Skeleton X-rays of 27 twin — pairs (12 monochorial and 15 bichorial) have been examined. Differences in osseous development between the two fetuses are not relevant, but may be found with the same frequency both in omologous and heterologous pairs. The Authors finally discuss the factors (which may be different, according to the type of twin pregnancy) possibly producing variations in the skeletal apparatus.

Description is made of a family of which in three generations five members presented a rare osseous distrophy. Medical information was obtained for about 46 individuals of the 107 who constitute the family. The affection shows resemblances with both the Camurati-Engelmann disease and hyperostosis corticalis generalisata familiaris. It is inherited through a dominant gene.

After having examined the literature on the subject, the A. presents the study he has carried on 60 twin-pairs with one or both twins suffering from neurosis or psychosis.

In 50 pairs a psychic suffering of neurotic type was present: out of the 20 MZ pairs, 18 were concordant with a percentage of 90%; out the 30 DZ pairs, 13 were concordant 43%.

Although discriminating the various forms and admitting the interference of environmental factors and other somato-psychic and psychogenetic causes, in 50% of the cases an undoubted psychotic and neurotic heredity was ascertained.

In the four pairs suffering from dysthymic psychosis the 3 MZ were concordant and the DZ discordant.

In the four pairs suffering from schizophrenia the MZ pair was concordant while the 3 DZ pairs were discordant.

In the two pairs of uncertain zygosity the concordance could not be extimated due to the death of the cotwin.

Dysthymia seems to be trasmitted as a dominant character and schizophrenia as a recessive.

Both dystymia and schizophrenia may undergo changes of expressivity with phenotypical characters which can be clinically mistaken as psychoneurotic forms.

The number of twins in 942 families where the propositus had a congenital malformation of the heart has been studied. The 38 pairs were not significantly more than could be expected by chance: nor were the 21 pairs where one member had a malformation of the heart. In 16 pairs, one was affected and the other normal; and in 5 pairs, one was affected and the other unknown. In 2 pairs, both were unknown because of early deaths; and in 15, both members of the pair were normal. In no pair were both members known to be affected.

There is clear evidence from this series and from the series of Uchida and Rowe (1957) and of Lamy et al. (1957) that where one member of a pair of monozygotic twins has a congenital malformation of the heart, the other is generally normal. It is the exception rather than the rule for both members to be affected, though several examples of such pairs have been reported.

There is some evidence from these three series that monozygotic twins are more liable to have a malformation of the heart than dizygotic twins and their sibs.

It follows from these two findings, that the immediate cause of the malformation of the heart must be environmental, though probably there is some genetic predisposition. A disturbance of the foetal circulation to the affected twin because of a single placenta and chorion seems to be the most likely environmental cause.

I should like to thank Professor Gedda of Rome and Professor Polani for their helpful suggestions and Dr. I. E. Evans for letting me see his unpublished paper on the evidence for monozygosity in some of the pairs of twins included in this paper.

Eleven reports of osteopetrosis due to dominant genes (table 1) establish in a firm basis the existence of such a genetic variant. By personal interview with all radiologists and orthopedists of Pòrto Alegre and larger Rio Grande do Sul cities, an estimate of 1: 100,000 was obtained for the frequency of osteopetrosis in this Brazilian State.

The author made use ot parochial archives for a genetic research. All parochial archives keep the registers of the newborn, the dead, the marriages, the confirmands, the amounting of the population in a parish. According to the canon 1813 (§ 1), these registers are public and ecclesiastical documents, and they form a mine of biological and genetic information too.

In this work the author, by making use of parochial archives in Busnago (Milan), — starting in 1634 — has controlled the proceeding of multiple pregnancies. These appear to have a percentage of 1,53% — superior to that of the Italian population (1, 13%) and to that of the human population officially numbered (1, 25% according to Caullery).

During the three centuries considered by the author, the proceeding of these multiple pregnancies shows a certain periodicity, but, from 1764 to 1804, there is an abrupt fall occuring at the same time of an endemic pellagrous disease. A further inquiry on 23 twin-pairs selected during the last forty years, and a research during the three centuries considered did not show any relationship between consanguinity and multiple pregnancies. On the contrary, this research showed a periodical proceeding of the frequency of multiple pregnancies on the total of the newborn with cusps, every quarter of a century, which seems to support the hypothesis of the existence of a dominant hereditary factor. At last, the greatest number of percentage of multiple pregnancies on the mother's side, as compared with the father's one, makes us think of a hereditary factor on the mother's side.

Reproduction in mongoloids is a rarity. Allen and Baroff (1955) cite only four reports prior to 1949 which described such instances and Øster (1953) considered the diagnoses uncertain in two of those reports. At least seven more recent instances have been recorded (Le Long, Borniche, Kreisler, and Baudy, 1949; Sawyer, 1949; Forsmann and Thysell, 1957; Rehn and Thomas, 1957; Schlaug, 1957; Mullins, Estrada, and Gready, 1960; and Hanhart, 1960). In four of those cases the offspring were non-mongoloid and in three, mongoloid.

The case described by Rehn and Thomas (op. cit.) is the subject of this report. Because those authors were aware of the present comprehensive study, their diagnoses of mongolism were based on only routine clinical examinations. The purpose in making this investigation was to determine whether or not both the mother and her female offspring were mongoloid. Toward that end the mother and child were examined carefully for the presence of the various stigmata of mongolism. The results of those examinations are presented below.

The mother in the present case was living at home when 19 years of age and would probably not have been committed to an institution had she not become pregnant. She was committed with the diagnosis of mongolism and pregnancy three months prior to delivery and remained a patient at the institution until released on home parole a few months following delivery. Her child was committed with a diagnosis of mongolism shortly after birth and has never been away from the institution. Paternity is unknown, though the mother's father has been suspected.