… but how in the world … I am quite sure every precaution must have been taken …" "Constriction-formations," answered Dr. Sammet, "can occur in various ways. But we can say with comparative certainty that in our case … in this case it is the amnion which is to blame."
"I beg your pardon. … The amnion?"
"That is one of the fœtal membranes, Royal Highness. Yes. And in certain circumstances the removal of this membrane from the embryo may be retarded and proceed so slowly that threads and cords are left stretching from one to the other … amniotic threads as we call them, yes. These threads may be dangerous, for they can bind and knot themselves round the whole of a child's limb; they can entirely intercept, for instance, the life-ducts of a hand and even amputate it. Yes."
"Great heavens … amputate it. So we must be thankful that it has not come to an amputation of the hand?"
"That might have happened. Yes. But all that has happened is an unfastening, resulting in an atrophy."
"And that could not be discovered, foreseen, prevented?"
"No, Royal Highness. Absolutely not. It is quite certain that no blame whatever attaches to anybody. Such constrictions do their work in secret. We are powerless against them. Yes."
"And the malformation is incurable? The hand will remain stunted?"
Dr. Sammet hesitated; he looked kindly at the Grand Duke.
"It will never be quite normal, certainly not," he said cautiously. "But the stunted hand will grow a little larger than it is at present, oh yes, it assuredly will …"
"Will he be able to use it? For instance … to hold his reins or to make gestures, like any one else?…"
