680 
TILE hand. 
Transfusion of Blood. 
This is an operation by which the blood of one animal is con- 
veyed into the veins of another, and by which_ it was some time ago 
imagined the age of animals would be renew'ed, and a demi-immor- 
tality conferred on those who had undergone it. In the Philosophical 
Transactions we have an account of the success of various transfusions 
practised at London, Paris, Italy, &c. Sir Edmund King transferred 
forty-nine ounces of the blood out of a calf into a sheep ; the sheep, 
after the operation, appearing as well and as strong as formerly. 
M. Denis transfused the blood of three calves into three dogs, which 
all continued brisk, and ate as well as before. The same person 
transferred the blood of four wethers into a horse tw'enty-six years 
old, which thence received much strength, and a more than ordinary 
appetite. Soon after this operation w'as introduced at Paris, viz. in 
1667 and 1668, M. Denis performed it on five human subjects, two 
of whom recovered of disorders under which they laboured : one, being 
in perfect health, suffered no inconvenience from it, but two persons 
w ho were ill, and submitted to the operation, died ; in consequence 
of which the magistrates issued a mandate, prohibiting the transfusion 
of blood into human bodies, under pain of imprisonment. 
Mr. John Hunter made many ingenious experiments to determine 
the effects of transfusing blood, some of which are sufficient to attract 
attention. 
Of late years the attempt has been renewed in this country, and, 
according to the accounts that have been published, the operations 
have been attended with considerable success. 
The Hand. 
The mechanism of the human hand is excellently fitted for the 
various uses and occasions we have for it, and the great numbers of 
arts and manufactures it is to be employed in. It consists of a corn- 
pages of nerves and little bones joined into each other, which give it 
a great degree of strength, and at the same time an unusual flexibility, 
to enable it to handle adjacent bodies, laying hold of them, and 
grasping them, either to draw them towards or to thrust them off. 
Anaxagoras is said to have maintained that man owes all his wisdom, 
knowledge, and superiority oyer other animals, to the use of his hands ; 
but Galen more justly remarks, that man is not the wisest creature 
because he lias hands, but he had hands given him^ because he was 
the wisest creature, for it was not our hands that taught us arts, but 
our reason. 
The hands are the organs of reason, &c. In scripture, the word 
hand is variously applied. To pour water on any one’s hand, signi- 
fies to serve him. To wash the hands, was a ceremony to denote 
innocence from murder or manslaughter. To kiss the hand, was an 
act of adoration. To fill the hand, signified taking possession of the 
priesthood, and performing its functions. To lean uponany one’s hand, 
w as a mark of familiarity and superiority. To give the hand, signifies 
to grant peace, swear friendship, promise security, or make alliance. 
