4 
concealed beneath the mystic doctrines of phrenology as well as 
under the more popular theories of physiognomy. 
If then mental attributes impress themselves on the features and 
modify the shape of the brain, as all must admit they do, why 
should they not lead, in course of time, to changes of development 
in the muscular and bony structures? These considerations must 
be my excuse for introducing to your notice to-night a subject 
which has for hundreds of years been shrouded in mystery and 
charlatanism. I allude to chiromancy, or the art of predicting the 
character from the appearance and development of the hand. This 
art dates back to the earliest recorded ages of the world, and was 
inextricably associated with necromancy and astrology. 
As early as 428 B.c., an elaborate essay on chiromancy and 
palmistry was written by Anaxagoras. If we consider the im- 
portant part played by the hand in giving expression to the 
emotions in all parts of the world and by all people, whether 
savage or civilized, we shall not be surprised if it becomes impressed 
by these constantly recurring and identical movements, both in its 
muscular structure and bony development. How much does an 
Italian, a Frenchman, a Spaniard, or even a savage express by his 
hand. Assent, dissent, fear, surprise, horror, doubt, shame, are 
all unmistakeably pourtrayed by the various movements of the 
hand. Even with us phlegmatic islanders the hand is clenched in 
passion, expanded in joy or surprise, raised in warning or reproof, 
and made to express the tenderest emotions of youth or the calmer 
friendship of age. Confidence, trust, joy, are expressed by the 
open hand, as may be seen by the meeting of old and trusted 
friends, who advance with open and outstretched palm ; while the 
same movement may be observed in grateful prayer. The closed 
hand and hidden palm is not less expressive of doubt, anger, 
concealment, or suspicion. The honest man comes frankly for- 
ward with outstretched arm and open palm, the deceitful man 
glides up to you with arms lank and drooping, the palms turned 
inwards and concealed. If you notice you will see the man who is 
trying to ‘‘ wheedle”’ or deceive, invariably conceal his palms ; he 
presses them together and rubs them gently the one over the other ! 
Again, in anger, how expressive is the action of the hand! As the 
‘‘angry passions rise” the fingers begin first to twitch, then 
contract, until, as temper gets the better of reason, the fingers are 
clenched convulsively on the palms, and the explosion of rage 
occurs. What wonder then that the sensitive and flexible palm 
becomes impressed with lines indicative of these oft recurring 
emotions. If the same emotion, or train of thought, produces 
constantly identical muscular contractions of our hands, it is not 
difficult to believe that they form or modify certain lines on our 
