Plate XIX. THE LINE OF HEALTH.Plate XIX. THE LINE OF HEALTH.
The Line of Health is one of the lines of the hand most subject to changes. It is the thermometer of the life showing its "rise and fall" as the case may be. I have seen this mysterious line look deep and threateningduring the early years of a life, and completely fade away as greater health and strength took possession of the body.
Again, I have often seen it look deeper and more ominous as the wear and tear, especially of the nervous system, began to make itself manifest, or when the subject over-taxed his mental strength.
Further, it is an excellent sign to be without this line altogether. Its absence denotes an extremely robust, strong constitution, and a healthy state of the nervous system.
If a hand has the Line of Health, the best position for it is to lie straight down the hand, and not approach or touch the Line of Life (3-3,Plate XIX.). When found crossing the hand, and touching or throwing branches across to the Line of Life, it foretells that there is some illness at work which is undermining the health.
If it rises and seems like a branch from the Heart Line, especially if both these lines are broad in appearance and with the Health Line running down the palm coming in contact with the Line of Life, it is a certain indication of weakness or disease of the heart.
The student should always observe the kind of nails there are on the hand when thinking out the diseases indicated by the Line of Health.[6]
[6]SeeChapter on Nails, page136.
[6]SeeChapter on Nails, page136.
When the finger nails are short, without moons, and round, and the Line of Health is strongly marked, he may be sure that nervous weak action of the heart is decidedly threatened.
When the nails are long and almond-shaped, there is danger of weakness and delicacy of the lungs. With the same shape of nails, and with islands in theupper part of the Health Line (4,Plate XIX.), consumption of the lungs and tuberculosis will make itself manifest.
When the nails are very flat, and especially shell-shaped (seePlate V., Part II.), and the Line of Health is deeply marked, paralysis and the worst forms of nerve diseases are threatening the subject.
When this line is very red in small spots, especially when pressed, rheumatic fever is indicated.
When twisted, irregular, and yellowish in colour, the subject will suffer from biliousness and liver complaints.
When found heavily marked, and only joining the Heart and Head Lines together, it foreshadows brain-fever, especially when any islands are marked on the Line of Head.
The Line of Health, running straight down the hand but not touching the Line of Life, indicates that though the constitution may not be robust, it is wiry, and there is great reserve resistance to disease.
In connection with the examination of the Line of Health, the student must always look for other indications to the rest of the lines of the hand, more especially to the Line of Life and Line of Head. For instance, when the Line of Life looks very chained and weak, the Health Line on a hand will naturally increase the danger of delicate health; and when found with a Line of Head full of little islands, or like a chain, such a Health Line more clearly foreshadows brain disease, severe headaches, etc.
By a study of this line the most valuable warnings may be given of approaching ill-health. Whether persons will follow the warnings or not is a question. My experience is that they do not and will not, andtherefore, whatever is indicated will most probably come to pass.
Providence places many signposts and warnings in our paths, but human nature is either too blind or too self-confident to notice them until it is too late.
These marks are classed among the minor lines of the hands, but they often have a significance that is of the greatest importance.
The Girdle of Venus is that broken or sometimes unbroken kind of semi-circular line that is found rising from the base of the first finger to the base of the fourth (1-1,Plate XX.).
I have not in my experience found this mark to indicate the gross sensuality that is so often ascribed to it by other writers. It should be remembered that the hand is divided by the Line of Head, as it were,into two hemispheres, the lower and the upper.
The lower relates to the physical or more animal side of the nature, and the upper to the intellectual. Following this arrangement, it is only reasonable to assume that this mark under consideration, viz., the Girdle of Venus, relates more to the mental side of the symbolism of the Venus nature.
I have found that persons with this sign are more mentally sensual than physically so. They love to read or write books on the subject of the "sex problem," but they are not inclined to put their theories and ideas into practice, at least with their own lives.
The qualities, however, that this mark represents are much more active and dangerous when this Girdle forms itself from the Mount of Saturn to that of Mercury. The imaginings of such people are then morbid and unhealthy.
Plate XX. THE GIRDLE OF VENUS, THE RING OF SATURN, THE THREE BRACELETS, THE LINE OF INTUITION AND THE VIA LASCIVA.Plate XX. THE GIRDLE OF VENUS, THE RING OF SATURN, THE THREE BRACELETS, THE LINE OF INTUITION AND THE VIA LASCIVA.
To those who study Astrology, the inference thatI draw from the connection of these two parts of the hand will become clear and reasonable.
When broken or made up of little pieces, the Girdle of Venus has little meaning except to show a hysterical temperament, with a leaning towards the tendencies I have mentioned above.
These persons in all cases suffer enormously from moods, they are very difficult to live with, and when the Girdle of Venus runs off the side of the hand and passes out through the Marriage Lines, their moody, changeable natures generally make marriage for them an unusually unhappy experience.
What is called the Ring of Saturn (2,Plate XX.) is very seldom found, and it is by no means a good sign to have. It is also a semi-circular line, but found lying across the Mount of Saturn.
In all my experience I have never been able to come across any person with this mark who succeeded in life or was able to carry any one of his plans to a successful termination.
These people seem cut off from their fellow beings in some peculiar and extraordinary way. They are isolated and alone, and they appear to realise their lonely position keenly. They are gloomy, morbid, and Saturnine in character. They seldom marry, and when they do it is always a ghastly failure.
They are terribly obstinate and headstrong in all their actions, they resent the least advice or interference in their plans. Their lives generally close in suffering, poverty, or by some sinister tragedy or fatality.
It is the most unfortunate mark ever to find.
The Bracelets (3-3,Plate XX.) are of very little importance except to throw light on certain points of health. There are supposed to be three of these lines or bracelets at the wrist, which were called by the Greeks the Bracelets of Health, Wealth, and Happiness.
It is certainly very seldom that they can be found together, for experience in life does not give much hope that these three much-sought-after possessions can ever be found together on this side of the grave.
Delving back into the ancient legends of Greece, we find one very significant point in reference to the first bracelet, the one nearest the palm, which represents Health.
It appears that at one period of the ancient Greek civilisation all women had to come to the priest at their Temple to have their hands examined before they were allowed to marry. If the priest found this first Bracelet out of its place and rising up into the hand in the shape of an arch (4,Plate XX.), he would not allow the woman possessing this sign to be married under any circumstance, the idea being that it represented some internal malformation that would prevent her bringing children into the world. In such cases these women were made Vestal Virgins in the temples. Perhaps the old Greek Priest was right in his idea, for if this first Bracelet is found rising into the hand in the form of an arch, both men and women possessing it are delicate internally, and especially so in matters relating to sex.
The Line of Intuition (5,Plate XX.) is seldom found on other types of hand than those of the Philosophic, the Conic, and the Psychic, but it is sometimes found on the Spatulate.
It takes more or less the formation of a semi-circle from the face of the Mount of Mercury to that of the Mount of the Moon, or may be found on the Mount of the Moon alone. It must not be confounded with the Hepatica, or Line of Health, but is found as a distinct mark in itself.
It denotes an extra highly-strung sensitive temperament, also presentiments, inspiration, clairvoyance of the highest kind, clear vivid dreams which often come to pass, intuition as to how things should be done, and very often manifests itself in inspired speaking and writing of the loftiest character.
It is much more often found on women's hands than on men's, although many cases have come under my notice of its being unusually clearly marked on some men's hands. In each case the possessor of it had most remarkable powers and unusual faculties, as well as the gift of intuition, even concerning purely mundane subjects that in an ordinary state they knew nothing whatever about.
I use the words "ordinary state" advisably here, because such people are not always in the condition of mind when these strange faculties may be employed. Several of these men were absolutely uneducated, and yet at times, when thrown into an inspired state, they were able to explain the most intricate problems with the greatest accuracy. If asked, however, from where they obtained their knowledge, they were only able to reply that "it came to them" when in certain moods.
One man I knew well had such remarkable dreams of coming events that he was able to warn many people weeks and months in advance of dangers that lay before them, and his warnings in many cases saved life.
With all people who were gifted in this way I have noticed that they completely lost their strange powers the moment they indulged in alcohol of any kind.
This is a strange mark (6,Plate XX.) which takes the form also somewhat of a semi-circle, but in this case it connects the Mount of the Moon with that of Venus, or it may simply run off the hand from the lower part of the Mount of Luna into the wrist.
The first-mentioned formation indicates unbridled sensuality and passion, and where it cuts through the Line of Life it indicates death, but one usually brought about in connection with the licentiousness that it denotes.
This Line running from the Mount of the Moon into the wrist denotes the most sensual dreams, desires, and imaginings, but, unlike the other class, it is usuallyonly dangerous to the person on whose hand it is found.
In both cases there is generally a tendency towards the taking of drugs such as opium, morphine, especially when the hand is noted to be soft, full, and flabby. With a firm hard palm the subject usually indulges in excessive drinking fits, and when under drink seems to have no control whatever.
If the Line of Head is found weak-looking, full of islands and descending downwards on the Mount of the Moon, insanity or the worst form of degeneracy will sooner or later destroy the whole character and career.
What is called "La Croix Mystique" is found in the quadrangle of the hand between the Lines of Heart and Head (7,Plate XX.).
It is more usually found in the centre of this part of the hand, but it may be also found nearer the one side of the quadrangle or the other.
This mark denotes a natural gift or talent for mysticism and occultism of all kinds.
When placed nearer Jupiter, it denotes the employment of these studies more to gratify the subject's own pride or ambition than the following out of such things for their own sake.
When it is in the centre of the quadrangle, across the Line of Fate, or immediately under the Mount of Saturn, such studies become more of a religion or are followed for their own worth and the influence and truth of occultism will play a leading rôle in the whole career. Most likely the possessor of this mark will follow it as a profession, or will crystallise his researches into the form of books.
When this mark lies lower down in the quadrangle, nearer to the Mount of the Moon, the subject will study some form of occultism more from a superstitious standpoint than any other. None the less, he will be likely to succeed in doing so, and influence otherpeople through his studies, and with this latter form he will be more likely to write beautiful mystic poetry with the prophetic note running through it very strongly.
The Ring of Solomon is also one of these strange marks of mysticism and occultism, but in this latter case, owing probably to the qualities signified by the Mount of Jupiter, its possessor will aim at having the power of a master or an adept in such subjects (8,Plate XX.).
Travels and voyages may be seen on the hand by the little lines that leave the Line of Life and bend over towards the Mount of the Moon and also by the lines found on this Mount (2, Plate XXPlate XXI.).
When these fine lines of travel are seen on the Line of Life, by referring to the map showing dates (Plate XXVI.), it may be possible to obtain a very clear idea of when these travels take place.
When, however, the Line of Life itself divides, and one branch of it leans over towards or on to the Mount of the Moon (I,Plate XXI.), it denotes that the entire life will be full of change and travel. In such a case it will not be possible, except by the use of some gift such as clairvoyance, to tell accurately in advance the dates of voyages that will be undertaken.
If the Line of Life apparently leaves its ordinary course and sweeps over to the Mount of the Moon, the life will be one continual round of travel. The person will settle nowhere, and the end of the life in such a case will take place in some land far distant from the place of birth.
If the Line of Life has no line or branch leaving it and going in an opposite direction, but keeps to theform of a semi-circle round the Mount of Venus, then such a life will be remarkably free from change and travel, and the person will remain all his life in the land of his birth (3-3,Plate XXI.).
When a travel Line from the Line of Life ends in a small cross the journey undertaken will end in disappointment (4,Plate XXI).
When the Line ends in a square, there will be great danger to the subject on such a journey, but he will escape, as the square is a sign of preservation from danger.
When the Line ends in an island, the journey will end in loss (5,Plate XXI.).
When the Travel Line crosses over near or on to the Mount of the Moon and ends in a fork or a circle, there will be great danger of the subject losing his life in undertaking such a journey.
There is always more danger in travelling on water when the subject is found to be born in the following dates:
(1) Between the 21st of June and the 21st of July.(2) The 21st of October and the 21st of November.(3) Between the 21st of February and the 21st of March.
There is more likelihood of danger from collision of trains and accidents on land when the subject is born between:
(1) The 21st of April and 21st of May.(2) The 21st of August and the 21st of September.(3) The 21st of December and the 21st of January.
Plate XXI. TRAVELS, VOYAGES, ACCIDENTS AND DESCENDING LINES PROM THE MOUNTS.Plate XXI. TRAVELS, VOYAGES, ACCIDENTS AND DESCENDING LINES PROM THE MOUNTS.
Danger from storms, tornadoes, thunder and lightning, is more likely to occur when people are travelling whose birthdays fall between:
(1) The 21st of May and the 21st of June.(2) The 21st of September and the 21st of October.(3) The 21st of January and the 21st of February.
Accidents are generally marked by lines descending from the Mount of Saturn and touching the Line of Life (6,Plate XXI.).
When falling on the Line of Head, they increase the danger to the head itself (7,Plate XXI.).
Descending lines are those that look thicker on the Mount and taper as they come downwards.
The Island is never a fortunate sign. Whereever it makes its appearance, it reduces the promise of the Line or Mount on which it may be found.
On the Line of Life it shows delicacy or illness at that particular date where it appears (1,Plate XXII.).
On the Line of Head, weakness of the brain, danger of brain illness (2,Plate XXII.).
On the Line of Heart, weakness of the heart (3,Plate XXII.), and especially so when under the Mount of the Sun.
On the Line of Fate, heavy loss in worldly matters, worry, and anxiety about the subject's destiny (4,Plate XXII.).
On the Line of Sun, loss of position and generally by some scandal (5,Plate XXII.).
On the Line of Health, serious illness (6,Plate XXII.); if on the upper part of the Line and with small round finger-nails, throat and bronchial troubles. With long nails, delicacy of the lungs and chest. With short nails without moons, bad circulation and weak action of the heart; and with very flat nails, nerve diseases and paralysis (seeNails, page137).
Lower down on the Line of Health on the Mount ofthe Moon, it indicates a grave tendency towards kidney and bladder troubles (7,Plate XXII.).
Plate XXII. THE ISLAND, THE CIRCLE, THE SPOT, THE GRILLE, THE STAR, THE SQUARE.Plate XXII. THE ISLAND, THE CIRCLE, THE SPOT, THE GRILLE, THE STAR, THE SQUARE.
Any Line that forms itself into an island or that runs into one, is a bad sign for that Line or particular part of the hand on which it is found. An island on any of the Mounts weakens the qualities of what the Mount expresses.
On the Mount of the Sun the Circle is favourable (8,Plate XXII.) in all other positions it is unfavourable. On the Mount of the Moon it threatens death from drowning.
The Spot is a sign of temporary arrest of the qualities of any Line on which it may be found.
On the Line of Head, shock or injury. (9,Plate XXII.)
On the Line of Life, sudden illness.
On the Line of Health, fever.
On all the other Lines it appears to have less significance.
The Grille (10,Plate XXII.) is very often seen on the Mounts of the Hand. It denotes difficulties and obstacles in connection with whatever the Mount represents, and a lack of success in whatever quality or talent the Mount symbolises.
The Star (11,Plate XXII.) is with only one exception a most fortunate mark to possess. On the Mount of Jupiter, the Star promises added honour, power, and position.
On the Mount of Sun, it gives riches and glory, but generally associated with a public life.
On the Mount of Mercury, unusual success in commerce, business, science, or great eloquence, according to other indications of the hand. (11,Plate XXII.)
On the Mount of Mars under Jupiter, great distinction and celebrity in martial life or in some one decisive battle, which gives renown to the rest of the career, like a Wellington at Waterloo.
On the Mount of Mars under Mercury, it gives honour won by the mentality fighting the battle of life (seeMounts, page144).
On the Mount of the Moon it is a sign of great celebrity arising from the qualities of this Mount, viz., through the imagination or inventive faculties.
On the Mount of Venus the Star on the centre of this Mount is also a sign of success, but in relation to animal magnetism and sensuality it gives extraordinary success with the opposite sex.
On the Mount of Saturn it is the one unfavourablesign of this particular mark, and on this Mount it gives distinction, but one to be dreaded. Such a person will be the plaything of destiny, a man cast for some terrible part in the tragedy of life. Such a man's life will end in some terrible disaster, but one which will cause his name to be on everyone's lips. A king perhaps, but one crowned by doom.
Plate XXIII. MINOR MARKS AND SIGNS.Plate XXIII. MINOR MARKS AND SIGNS.
This sign is the direct opposite to the preceding sign, and has only one favourable position, viz., on the Mount of Jupiter where it indicates some extraordinary fortunate affection which will come into the life. On all the other Mounts it is evil.
On the Mount of Saturn, violent death. (12,Plate XXII.)
On the Mount of Sun, disappointment in riches.
On the Mount of Mercury, dishonesty.
On the Mount of Mars (under Mercury) great opposition.
On the Mount of Mars (under Jupiter) violence and even death from quarrels.
On the Mount of the Moon it denotes a fatal influence to the imagination. Such a man will deceive himself. When low down on this Mount it foreshadows death by drowning.
On the Mount of Venus it indicates some fatal influence of the affections.
Above the Line of Head it foretells an accident or injury to the head.
Above the Line of Heart, the sudden death of some loved one.
The Square (13,Plate XXII.) is usually called the Mark of Preservation. It shows escape from dangers at that particular moment where it appears.
When on the Line of Life it means preservation from death. (13,Plate XXII.)
On the Line of Fate, preservation from loss, and so on with each quality represented by the different lines.
The lines on the palm should be clearly marked, a good pink or reddish colour, and they should be free from breaks, crosses, holes or irregularities of all kinds.
When very pale in colour they show lack of force and loss of energy, and often poor health.
When extremely red they indicate excessive energy and a rather violent disposition.
When yellow in colour they denote a tendency to biliousness and liver complaints, and tell in consequence of a melancholy morose nature.
Forked lines are generally good and increase the quality of the special indication. When at the end of the Line of Head, the fork gives more of what is called a dual mentality and less power of concentration on any one subject. (Plate XXIV.)
Spots on a Line weaken it and arrest its growth.
Tasselled Lines (Plate XXIV.) are not good signs. They weaken any indication the line itself denotes, and at the end of a Life Line they foreshadow loss of all nervous energy.
Wavy Lines (Plate XXIV.) show uncertainty, lack of decision and want of force.
Broken Lines (Plate XXIV.) destroy the meaning ofthe line at the particular place where the break appears, but if one line ends above the other, the break is not so bad and the quality of the line will be continued.
Plate XXIV. MINOR MARKS AND SIGNS.Plate XXIV. MINOR MARKS AND SIGNS.
Sister Lines (Plate XXIV.) increase or double the power of any line, and when lying close together at the Line of Head, they give it great power and promise.
Islands (Plate XXIV.) are always evil and denote weakness or failure of the Line or Mount on which they may be found.
Ascending Lines (Plate XXIV.) are good from any line from which they spring. From the Line of Life they denote increased energy wherever they make their appearance. If they run up to any particular Mount or part of the hand, they show that the increasedeffort or energy will be in that particular direction.
Descending Lines (Plate XXIV.) are the reverse and mean loss of power.
Chained Lines show lack of force or fixity of purpose. (Plate XXIV.).
When the entire hand is covered with a network of small lines, it denotes a highly nervous disposition and usually great mental worry and lack of decision.
Both the hands should be examined together to see if they accord. When they do, the indication of whatever the mark is, is more decided.
When something is marked on the left hand and not on the right, the tendency will be in the nature, but unless it is also marked on the right hand it will never bear fruit or come to any result. When the two hands are exactly alike, it denotes that the subject has not developed in any way from what heredity or Nature gave to him.
It must be remembered that we use the left side of the brain more than we do the right, and the nerves cross and go to the right hand. Consequently, it is this hand which denotes the developed or active brain, the left only giving the natural tendencies or inclinations.
To be scientific and accurate the student of this subject must always keep this rule before his mind and not be led away in his judgment by some "marvellously good line" that the subject may proudly call his attention to in the left hand, for such a mark will have no actual result unless it is also found on the right hand.
The Great Triangle is formed by the lines of Head, Life, and Health (Plate XXV.). The larger this triangle is, the better will be the health, for the reason that the Line of Health will be further removed from the Life Line. The views of life will also be broader and the field of action as it were less limited.
When the upper angle (made by the Head and Life Lines) is acute, the subject will be more nervous, timid, and sensitive.
The Quadrangle, as its name implies, is that space lying between the Lines of Head and Heart. (Plate XXV.)
To be well marked, it should be even in shape and not narrow at either end.
When marked in this way it denotes balance of judgment, level-headedness in all things, and is a most excellent sign to have.
It represents man's disposition or mental attitude towards his fellow men. When extremely narrow it indicates narrowness of views and bigotry in regard to religion.
When excessively wide, it denotes a lack of judgment in all things and too much looseness of views for one's good.
Plate XXV. THE GREAT TRIANGLE AND THE QUADRANGLE.Plate XXV. THE GREAT TRIANGLE AND THE QUADRANGLE.
The most correct way in which to tell time by the hand is to divide the Line of Life into periods of seven years, and also the Line of Fate, following the accompanying design (Plate XXVI.).
The Line of Head may also be divided into sections of seven years (seepage25).
This division into periods of seven is the most natural one of all, as the entire nature changes every seven years. Long experience has proved that, by dividing the hand in the manner shown in the accompanying illustration, the best possible results as regards dates are obtained.
I have also made the following curious observation concerning the most important years in people's careers, which I now publish in this work for the first time.
People born on the 1st, 10th, 19th, and 28th of any month, and especially in the months of July, August, and January, will find the following years of their lives the most eventful:
1st, 7th, 10th, 16th, 19th, 28th, 34th, 37th, 43d, 46th, 52d, 55th, 61st, and 70th.
1st, 7th, 10th, 16th, 19th, 28th, 34th, 37th, 43d, 46th, 52d, 55th, 61st, and 70th.
Plate XXVI. TIME AND DATES OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS.Plate XXVI. TIME AND DATES OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS.
Those born on the 2d, 11th, 20th, and 29th of any month, but more especially in July, August, and January, will find the following years of their lives the most eventful:
2d, 7th, 11th, 16th, 20th, 25th, 29th, 34th, 38th, 43d, 47th, 52d, 56th, and 70th.
2d, 7th, 11th, 16th, 20th, 25th, 29th, 34th, 38th, 43d, 47th, 52d, 56th, and 70th.
Those born on the 3d, 12th, 21st, and 30th of any month, but more especially in the months of December and February, will find the following years of their lives the most eventful:
3d, 12th, 21st, 30th, 39th, 48th, 57th, 66th, and 75th.
3d, 12th, 21st, 30th, 39th, 48th, 57th, 66th, and 75th.
Those born on the 4th, 13th, 22d, and 31st, especially in the months of July, August, and January, will find the followings years of their lives the most eventful:
1st, 4th, 10th, 13th, 19th, 22d, 28th, 31st, 37th, 40th, 46th, 49th, 55th, 58th, 64th, 67th, 73d, and 76th.
1st, 4th, 10th, 13th, 19th, 22d, 28th, 31st, 37th, 40th, 46th, 49th, 55th, 58th, 64th, 67th, 73d, and 76th.
Those born on the 5th, 14th, and 23d of any month, but especially in the months of June and September, will find the following years of their lives the most eventful:
5th, 14th, 23d, 32d, 41st, 50th, 59th, 68th, and 77th.
5th, 14th, 23d, 32d, 41st, 50th, 59th, 68th, and 77th.
Those born on the 6th, 15th, and 24th of any month, but especially in the months of May and October, will find the following years of their lives the most eventful:
6th, 15th, 24th, 33d, 42d, 51st, 60th, 69th, 78th, and 87th.
6th, 15th, 24th, 33d, 42d, 51st, 60th, 69th, 78th, and 87th.
Those born on the 7th, 16th, and 25th of any month, especially in the months of July, August, and January, will find the following years of their lives the most eventful:
2d, 7th, 11th, 16th, 20th, 25th, 29th, 34th, 38th, 43d, 47th, 56th, 61st, 65th, 70th, 74th, and 79th.
2d, 7th, 11th, 16th, 20th, 25th, 29th, 34th, 38th, 43d, 47th, 56th, 61st, 65th, 70th, 74th, and 79th.
Those born on the 8th, 17th, and 26th of any month,but more especially in the months of January, February, July, and August, will find the following years of their lives the most eventful:
8th, 17th, 26th, 35th, 44th, 53d, 62d, 71st, and 80th.
8th, 17th, 26th, 35th, 44th, 53d, 62d, 71st, and 80th.
Those born on the 9th, 18th, and 27th of any month, but more especially in the months of April, October, and November, will find the following years of their lives the most eventful:
9th, 18th, 27th, 36th, 45th, 54th, 63d, 72d, and 81st.
9th, 18th, 27th, 36th, 45th, 54th, 63d, 72d, and 81st.
This curious system it will be seen has embraced every day of every month that people can be born on. It is based on a strange law of periodicity that after years of study I have found extremely accurate and wonderful in its meaning.
We now leave the domain of what must be considered Palmistry, the study of the Lines of the Palm—or Cheiromancy, as it was called by the Greeks from the wordχεíρ, the hand, and proceed to consider the meanings that can be derived from the shapes of the hands, fingers, etc., which is called Cheirognomy.
These two studies may be taken up separately, but by a knowledge of both the student will be doubly armed, especially in the reading of character.
To a judge of horseflesh the limbs of the horse give him such a fund of information as to the animals' breed, training, etc., that it enables him to draw conclusions that he could not otherwise obtain.
In the same way the shape of the hand gives an enormous wealth of information as to breed and peculiarities of human beings.
In a book of this nature I shall be able to give onlythe leading traits denoted by each type, but if readers wish to carry out this study further, I must refer them to my larger works on the subject, in which the shapes of the hands are described in the fullest detail.
The most casual observation of character as shown by the formation of hands will soon convince any person of the value of this study. Even in itself it possesses the most far-reaching possibilities in helping to a clear understanding of the difference that exists in races, their various blends of types, that have now spread themselves by intermarriage and travel over the surface of the earth.
For example, the difference in the shape of the hands of the French and German or the French and English races would convince any thinking person that temperament and disposition are indeed largely indicated by the shape of the hand itself.
It is even a remarkable thing that though work and exercise may enlarge and broaden the hand, yet the type to which it belongs is never destroyed, but can be easily detected by anyone who has made a study of such matters.
The Seven Types or Shapes of Hands are as follows:
(1) The Elementary—or lowest type.(2) The Square—or the useful hand.(3) The Spatulate—or nervous active type.(4) The Philosophic—or jointed hand.(5) The Conic—or the artistic type.(6) The Psychic—or the idealistic hand.(7) The Mixed Hand.
As its name implies, the Elementary is the lowest type of all. It is just a little above the brute creation. This type is extremely short (Plate I., Part II.), thick set and brutal-looking. In passing I must draw the reader's attention to the fact that the shorter and thicker the hand is, the nearer the person is to the animal.
In examining this type one can therefore only expect to find it the expression of all that is coarse, brutal, and animal.
People having such hands naturally have very little mental development or ability. They are found engaged in occupations requiring only unskilled labour and the very lowest even of that.
They are violent in temper, and have little or no control over their passions or their anger. They are coarse in their ideas, possess little or no sentiment, no imagination or feeling, and it has been found that even the nerve system of such types is more or less in a state of non-development. They do not feel pain as the higher types of humanity feel it, and have little ambition except to eat, drink, and sleep.
Note.—The thumb is extremely short and low-set with the Elementary type.