CHAPTER I.
THE STUDY OF THE SHAPE OF THE HAND We now leave the domain of what must be considered Palmistry, the study of the Lines of the Palm--or Cheiromancy, as it was called by the Greeks from the word [Greek: cheir], the hand, and proceed to consider the meanings that can be derived from the shapes of the hands, fingers, etc., which is called Cheirognomy.
These two studies may be taken up separately, but by a knowledge of both the student will be doubly armed, especially in the reading of character.
To a judge of horseflesh the limbs of the horse give him such a fund of information as to the animals' breed, training, etc., that it enables him to draw conclusions that he could not otherwise obtain.
In the same way the shape of the hand gives an enormous wealth of information as to breed and peculiarities of human beings.
In a book of this nature I shall be able to give only the leading traits denoted by each type, but if readers wish to carry out this study further, I must refer them to my larger works on the subject, in which the shapes of the hands are described in the fullest detail.
The most casual observation of character as shown by the formation of hands will soon convince any person of the value of this study.

Even in itself it possesses the most far-reaching possibilities in helping to a clear understanding of the difference that exists in races, their various blends of types, that have now spread themselves by intermarriage and travel over the surface of the earth.
For example, the difference in the shape of the hands of the French and German or the French and English races would convince any thinking person that temperament and disposition are indeed largely indicated by the shape of the hand itself.
It is even a remarkable thing that though work and exercise may enlarge and broaden the hand, yet the type to which it belongs is never destroyed, but can be easily detected by anyone who has made a study of such matters.
The Seven Types or Shapes of Hands are as follows: (1) The Elementary--or lowest type.
(2) The Square--or the useful hand.
(3) The Spatulate--or nervous active type.
(4) The Philosophic--or jointed hand.
(5) The Conic--or the artistic type.
(6) The Psychic--or the idealistic hand.
(7) The Mixed Hand.
THE SEVEN TYPES OF HANDS THE ELEMENTARY As its name implies, the Elementary is the lowest type of all.

It is just a little above the brute creation.

This type is extremely short (Plate I., Part II.), thick set and brutal-looking.

In passing I must draw the reader's attention to the fact that the shorter and thicker the hand is, the nearer the person is to the animal.
In examining this type one can therefore only expect to find it the expression of all that is coarse, brutal, and animal.
People having such hands naturally have very little mental development or ability.