Evening star., 1932-04-16
.QUADRUPED ADULTS
FOUND ALIVE TODAY
AS LINK WITH PAST
Dr.. HrdIiCka Tells of Men and
Women Walking With Feet
and Hands.
F0UR-FO0TED URGE ALSO
is SUBJECT OF DREAMS
Alaskan Indian and Colored Farm.
hand Cited by Scientist as Re
markable Cases.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

Ike animals were reported before the
Washington Psychological Society. meet
ing at the National Child Research Gen.
ter last night, by DR.. Ales Hrdlicka
curator of physical anthropology at the
Smithsonian Institution.
Several years ago DR.. Hrdlicka start
ing with a chance observation, gathered
hundreds Of records from all over the
world Of infants who walked like quad
rupeds, with both the palms of the
hands and the soles of the feet fat on
the ground. This he interpreted as a
trace OF mans quadruped ancestry.
Ordinarily this four-footed behavior
disappears after few months and the
child, usually above the average in
physique and brightness, starts to walk
erect like other children.
Quadruped Gases Reported.
The most recent cases reported to
him, however, indicate that with some
individuals it may continue through
life. One case is of white woman,
65 years old, who walked on all fours
as a baby and still frequently feels a
strong urge to do so. At such times
it seems to her the normal way of
walking. She restraints the impulse
when in company lest she be thought
queer" but some times gives way to
it when she is alone
The most remarkable of the cases
reported TO DR.. Hrdlicka is that of an
Indian woman in Alaska who runs in
quadruped fashion, carrying and nurs-
ing a child at the same time. Another
case is that of colored farm hand,
20 years old, who frequently reverts
to this form of running to amuse the
children. But he does it as naturally
and easily as any quadruped. The
fourth case IS that of an old Navajo
Indian man.
DR.. Hrdlicka is anxious to receive
reports of other cases of this kind. if
possible from the persons themselves
the names to be treated confidentially.
The phenomenon may be much more
frequent than appears from these few
cases, he believes, since persons subject
to such urges are apt to be ashamed of
them and give way to them only in
secret. But, he insists, there is no
reason to be sensitive about them.
They are surviva,s of a form of be-
havior which, among infants, appears to
indicate actual superiority.
SUBJECT OF Dreams.
Another survival of this same ouadru-
ped behavior among adults, he told the
psychologists, apparently crops out in
dreams and Nightmares. He has re-
ceived reports-one of them from one
OF WaShington's foremost scientists-of
a recurrent terrifying experience during
sleep, in which the dreamer is pursued
and fees in the ordinary human
fashion. But as the terror comes nearer
and greater speed is needed the dreamer
drops on all fours. which seems the
natural way Of running The probability
Is, he believes, that such dreams are
most likely among adults who were
"quadruped children" Since this be-
havior is usually over before the age
OF earliest memories, the dreamers can
not verify this point
third quadruped survival into
adult life, DR.. Hrdlicka said, may be
the prehensile toe. He told of instances
among Philippine natives where a man.
walking along with a burden on his
back and seeing desired object in the
road, will grasp it with his toes and
hand it up" to his fingers rather than
bend down to pick it up.
Some children he said. who appar-
emily never walk on all fours, sleep in
this quadruped position which seems
to the observer about the most strained
md uncomfortable possible. But when
the sleeper is turned on his back by an
anxious mother he quickly gets back in
the same position. Apparently the
child finds it the most comfortable and
natural for sleeping.
Peculiarities in Children.
Some of the latest "quadruped chill
dren" reported to Dr. Hrdlicka by par
ents show gaits reminiscent of other
animals besides bears and dogs. Some
"lope," with both limbs on one side
projected at the same time Others
move in very complicated fashion with
the arms not keeping in exact time
with the legs.
Some take the bearings" of an OBJ
ject, then lower the eyes to the ground
and run straight toward it. Others
keep the head up and watch the goal
toward which they are heading all the
time. These two patterns are charac-
teristic of different types of animals.
Some hold the legs stiff, but in spite
of this do not appear clumsy as they
run over the ground like little animals.
Others hold the knees f1exed. Most
walk "fat-footed," but some move along
on their knuckles like the higher
primates. Some walk on the balls of
their feet and some on their toes.
Walk Backward.
Still other children described in the
reports DR.. Hrdlicka said, walk back
ward and some move sideways All
these traits seem to be derived from
behavior of the lower quadrupeds. Some
walk in such complicated fashions that
it is impossible for observers to describe
them.
notable feature. DR.. Hrdlicka said
is the suddenness with which such chill
dren walk upright when they abandon
the quadruped progression. They show
little of the clumsiness usually dis
played by children who crawl before