244 SURGICAL APPLIED ANATOMY. [Chap. xv. 



indicates the 'portion of nail formed during the illness, 

 and loty iwatchirrg its movement the rate of growth of 

 the nail can be 'estimated. I * n'ave mace Jhan once 

 foui^d t'hfese 'grooves useful in. tecting. the 'truth of a 

 patrerUrs Account of his more recent ailments. The 

 nail grows at the average rate of ^nd of an inch per 

 week. It may be noted that each digital nerve gives 

 a special branch of large size to the pulp beneath the 

 nail, and this serves to account for the intense pain 

 felt when a foreign body is accidentally thrust under 

 the nail. 



The fasciae. Beneath the skin of the palm is the 

 dense palmar fascia. This fascia gives almost as much 

 strength to the hand as would so much bone, while its 

 unyielding character, its comparative freedom from 

 vessels and nerves, and its superficial position, render 

 it admirably suited to withstand the effects of pressure. 

 In certain circumstances this fascia, in part or in 

 whole, contracts, and the disease known as Dupuytren's 

 contraction is produced. In this affection the skin 

 and subcutaneous tissue become also involved, and the 

 fingers become flexed. Apropos of this flexion, 

 experiment shows that by dragging upon the fascia 

 the first phalanx can be readily bent, and also, but with 

 less ease, the second phalanx (Goyrand). 



The structures of the palm are divided into three 

 spaces by the fasciae of the part (Fig. 27). Thus the 

 muscles of the thenar and hypothenar eminences 

 are both enclosed in a thin fascia proper to each 

 eminence. The two spaces formed by these membranes 

 are enclosed in all directions, and are capable, though 

 only in a feeble way, of limiting suppuration when it 

 commences in them. Between these two spaces 

 (loges) is a third space, which is roofed in by the 

 palmar fascia. This cavity is closed in at the sides, 

 but is open above and below. Above there is a 

 free opening beneath the annular ligament and along 



