An unusual case of multiple pregnancy

Abstract

The ratio of twin pregnancies to single pregnancies in England and the United. States of America is reported to be approximately one in eighty. By Hellins Law the incidence of quintuplets is therefore approximately one in 40 million. Quintuplets in these countries are obviously of extreme rarity. It is known, however, that in Rhodesia the incidence of twins is much higher among the African population and one would, therefore, expect the incidence of quintuplets to be higher. The incidence of twins is reported to be in the region of one in thirty-five, and by application of Hellins Law the incidence of quintuplets should be approximately one in 1.5 million births.