Seems to me the widow's peak, the premature white hair and the freckles must also be of Celtic origin. Many of my cousins and I have the long index toe and all of the above.... But then, I also seem to have the bent finger if it is just the top joint - or could that just be from arthritis? <g> Iris F, Reily

Dupytrens Contracture was supposed to have been a trait of the MacCrimmons, the highly-revered pipers of old. I had a wee lump come up in the palm of my left hand, inboard of my ring finger. "Oh! Said my doctor, Margaret Thatcher's Disease". (The Iron Lady had a bad case of it, and underwent surgery). It worried me, though as a piper, I was in good company (see my first paragraph, though my expertise would make the MacCrimmon's cringe!). My mother had a very bent finger, and I could visualise that my piping days were over. However, five years later the lump is much smaller and although my finger is straight - perhaps the regular exercise of piping has eased it - it sometimes is a bit slow and won't do exactly what I want it to do - anyhow that's my excuse when I muck up a tune. How about the KERR's whose family trait is said to be left-handedness? Pat Dunbar -----Original Message----- From: Iris F Reily [mailto:iris@reily.org] Sent: 27 April 2004 05:40 To: PERTHSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [PERTH] Bent little finger again Seems to me the widow's peak, the premature white hair and the freckles must also be of Celtic origin. Many of my cousins and I have the long index toe and all of the above.... But then, I also seem to have the bent finger if it is just the top joint - or could that just be from arthritis? <g> Iris F, Reily ______________________________