ID# 1990:
"Enquiry as to albinism in man," appeal for pedigrees by Karl Pearson, E. Nettleship, and Edward Stainer
Date:
1905
Pages: 1 of 1
Source:
University College London, KP, 204/2

&quote;Enquiry as to albinism in man,&quote; appeal for pedigrees by Karl Pearson, E. Nettleship, and Edward Stainer

6 [stamp]University College London 204/2 Pearson Papers[end stamp] Enquiry as to Albinism in Man. [centered double score] Dear Sir, In connection with the study of heredity in man we are interested in collecting cases of Albinism, but owing to their comparative scarcity there is difficulty in obtaining enough material for generalisation. We therefore venture to ask whether you will kindly aid the research by sending us particulars of any cases you have seen? In the hope that you may be able to do so, we subjoin an outline of the kind of information asked for, and will only add that whilst the information itself will be treated as confidential, full acknowledgment of its sources will be made when the subject comes to publication. We wish to obtain the pedigrees of families in which one or more cases of Albinism have occurred. I. - The more extensive such pedigrees can be made the better, because Albinism in man seldom passes from parent to child, but is often found in lateral kinsfolk, and ancestors: one, two, or even more intervening generations having apparently escaped. II. -- All information is important that bears on the question whether Albinism is, or not, the expression of a long-continued prevalence of scanty pigmentation in a particular stock. Hence particulars are desired as to colour of hair and eyes, fecundity, general physical and mental vigour (or causes of death), and the occurrence in albinotic families of any defects or peculiarities other than Albinism; and of any cases of partial or incomplete Albinism ([italics]see VI on opposite page[end italics]). Cases of any skin disease, for example, Nigrism or Addison's disease, should be noted. III. -- The influence of cousin marriage is a point of great importance which should be carefully followed up. In particular, all cousin marriages within the father's stock, or within the mother's stock, should be recorded, [italics]even if all the children are normal.[end italics] IV. -- Incomplete family records, and particulars of single cases of Albinism, will also be useful and welcome. But in such cases please distinguish as far as possible between such replies as "Family history well known for - generations and no cases have occurred;" - "Never heard of any cases;" and "Nothing known of the family history." V. - Photographs of Albinos will be valued, especially Albinos of dark races. The portrait should be taken in a strong light, and the background be dark. In the case of dark races a normal native should, when possible, be placed alongside the Albino. VI. - Incomplete and partial Albinism (referred to under II) - (1) All cases are desired in which the hair, though it may never have been quite white, has always been and still is extremely fair, the skin very blond, and the ocular attributes of Albinism present - pale grey or blue irides, some degree of pink reflex from the pupils, and, usually, more or less defective acuteness of sight, with nystagmus and ametropia. (2) In children born with white or nearly white hair and the ocular signs above mentioned, the hair sometimes becomes gradually coloured, and at about the age of puberty may have become quite brown. These can generally be recognised by the persistence of poor sight, nystagmus, and grey or blue irides. Such individuals, when they give a clear history of originally white hair should be included in the albinotic class. Any evidence as to whether ocular pigment was so deficient in infancy as to allow for a time of the pink pupil would be valuable. (3) Cases occur in which defective vision co-exists with nystagmus blue irides, and more or less ametropia, but with no history of originally white or extremely fair hair. Such cases often occur in families. It is suggested that they may be examples of localized Albinism of a part only of the choroid. Any families in which both such cases and ordinary Albinos had occurred deserve careful record. (4) A further class of cases should be noted, with albinotic hair and skin, but without nystagmus or defective sight. (5) Another group of which more knowledge is wanted is that of the pied individuals. Many such have been seen amongst the dark races and described as Albinos. It would seem that we are in need of clear distinctions between pied Albinism and Leucoderma. Pied Albinism should be present at birth, should change, if at all, by the subsequent appearance of more or less colour in the white areas and should be accompanied, at least in some instances, by Albinism of the eyes. If pied Negroes are Albinos we ought to meet with pied Albinos in Europeans, amongst whom Leucoderma is well known. When practicable, European Albinos should be examined all over for inequalities in the tint of the skin (and hair). The pedigrees of any of the above, or of any other [italics]varieties of Albinism[end italics] are, for the present purpose, quite as important as those of the complete form. It is obvious, however, that the detection of some of the varieties may entail special trouble. We are, Sir, yours faithfully, Karl Pearson, University College, London. E. Nettleship, Shotterwill, Haslemere, Surrey. Edward Stainer, 60, Wimpole Street, London, W. Replies may be sent to any of the above-named. [end]

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