Popular Science Monthly 



361 



If Your Hand Is Too Small- 

 Stretch It 

 AXKW instnimoiit lias beon invented 

 for nuisii-ians. It is intended to be 

 used by pianists and volinists in particu- 

 lar, lo exercise llieir hands and to 

 enlarge them. Physicians, too, will find 

 the invention useful as a massaging 

 device. 



The instrument is fitted with groo\es 

 tor finger liolds which move across the 

 board by mcansof elastics. Pegssetapart 

 for the finger iiolds, gi\-e ex- 

 cellent practice for stretching 

 the muscles of the hands, 

 particularly those between 

 the fingers. .After a short 

 " warming up " on this 

 board, the musician 

 1 is ready for 

 real business. 



witli a mechanical de\-icc and injured 

 himself to such an extent that he could 

 never play the piano so well again. 



Various devices are now in general 

 use to exercise the crippled fingers of 

 wounded soldiers. They perform the 

 work of masseurs with tireless patience 

 and with an effecti\eness that is truly 

 astonishing. One of them is shown in 

 tlic illustration on the left. 



Expert typewriters and telegraphers 

 are also adopting mechanical means for 

 limbering up the muscles of the 

 lands. It is said that a typist can 

 increase her speed to nearly two 

 lundred words a minute by per- 

 sistent exercise — not on her type- 

 writer, but with some such device 

 as those illustrated. However, 

 ike all gymnastics, mechanical 

 massage must be indulged in 

 very judiciousK, preferably 

 under the direction of a pro- 

 essional instructor, so as to 

 a\()id all danger. 



A Mechanical 

 Masseur Which 

 Soldiers Who Have 

 Been Wounded Use 



The instrument was also invented for 

 the purpose of imjiroving the structure 

 of the hands and it is being used in the 

 accompanying picture on the right for 

 that purpose. 



Musicians do not view these devices 

 with unqualified aiiproval. Unless 

 judiciously used they may even do 

 harm. The famous (-om()oser Robert 

 Schumann tried to improw his hand 



Her Fingers Were So Short She Could Not 

 Stretch an Octave on the Piano Formerly 



