Ectrodactyly in History

* Roman Finger Torture: For first offences and serious misdemeanors, Romans would often exact a penalty of removing parts of fingers. They would start by cutting from the fingertip to the top knuckle of the pinky finger for the first offence. For later offenses, the finger would be removed to one knuckle at a time working from the pinky finger to the thumb. By looking at the hand, Romans knew one's criminal history. This torture inflicted punishment without impairing their capacity to pay taxes. Now the ex-Roman has to live with this karma.

* Chinese Toe Torture: Similar to the Roman Finger Torture, the Chinese Toe Torture would remove toes from the pinky to the big toe from the right to left foot. The idea was to keep the individual from being able to walk easily or to run at all. With every footstep, the individual would be reminded of their crimes and would be prevented from escaping justice. Now the ex-Chinese has to live with this karma by experiencing it themselves with every step they take.

* Barbarian Training Torture: In various "barbarian" tribes (like Huns, Vandals, Visigoths, and so on), there were brutal training practices. When a trainee made a serious mistake, the penalty was losing part of a finger (less often parts of a toe). Now the ex-barbarian has to live with this karma by experiencing it themselves.

* Inquisition Mutilation Torture: In the early days of the Inquisition, the church would punish heretics by lopping off fingers or toes. This was supposed to be a living, visible deterrent to crime that did not really work. Now the ex-Inquisitor has to live with the finger and/or toe karma by experiencing it themselves.

* Exhibition Karma: In past lives, the Ectrodactyly sufferer exploited others by displaying them as "freaks of nature". Most often, they were unusually cruel to the "freaks" in their care by beating them and by forcing them to endure "inhuman" conditions. Their own dramatic deformity makes them "freaks in society" now.