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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



tion indicated by several ridges. When the four main lines are traced, 

 search should be made for a fifth triradius, the carpal, usually occur- 

 ring in or near the middle of the palm just above the wrist, and its 

 lines should be followed in the same way as in the other cases. The 

 two short lines running downward to the wrist are the carpal lines and 

 define the carpal area, and the longer one which curves about the base 

 of the thumb is the thenar. A carpal triradius is not always present, 

 but in some cases its place is taken by what may be termed a ' parting, ' 

 or a place where the ridges which run from the palm to the wrist divide 



i' 



"^^^^^im^^ 



Fig. 1. Print of Left Palm [Collection No. 20ti], not Interpreted. 



into two groups, one half of which diverge toward the inner, while the 

 other half diverge toward the outer side (see Fig. 4, a and h). When 

 the interpretation is complete the palm impressions will resemble Fig. 

 2 (compare with Fig. 1). 



If, now, similar impressions are made of a half dozen palms, a great 

 individual difference in the course of the main lines will be at once 

 apparent. They will curve in different directions, sustain various rela- 

 tions with regard to one another and terminate at different points 

 along the margin of the palm. Although occasionally two palms will 

 show the same general course of tlic main lines, there are, on the other 

 hand, a large lumilu'r of distinct eases, nnd this system may well serve 



