160 PHYSICAL EXPRESSION. 



hand in rest is normal in the condition of resting ; 

 the feeble hand is hardly to be considered as normal, 

 at any rate in a man. The principal difference in 

 the two postures is in the metacarpus ; in the feeble 

 hand the contraction of the metacarpus is marked, 

 and this I believe to be abnormal, because I do not 

 see it in a strong subject, and because it is often 

 seen in convulsion and in chronic rigidity sequent 

 to paralysis, etc. 



The normal straight hand when held out is the 

 posture typical of strength. This is the posture in 

 which a strong and healthy man, woman, or child 



Fig. 22. The Straight Hand. 



holds out the hand to request ; there is no flexion, 

 no extension, but perfect balance. This statement 

 is founded on numerous observations. I have often 

 requested a body of students, or other healthy sub- 

 jects, to hold out their hands; so also healthy children, 

 who could know nothing of my object ; and thus I 

 have had the opportunity of judging that this well- 

 balanced posture indicates the normal action of the 

 nerve-mechanism employed in the act. 



There is no interdifferentiation, no collateral 

 differentiation, no difference of small parts in con- 

 trast with large parts ; the metacarpus is straight 

 transversely, in contrast with the contracted meta- 

 carpus of the feeble hand and the hand in rest. 



