THE THUMB  
In the judgment of character by the formation of the Hand, the Thumb is of about the same importance as the nose is to the face. It must be understood to represent the natural Will Power, whereas the Line of Head represents the Mental Will.
 
In my larger works on this subject I have gone into very deeply the medical reasons why character should be expressed by the Thumb and the extraordinary r?le it has played in civilisation, and also in the various religions of the world.
 
The Thumb proper represents the three great worlds of ideas, viz., Love, Logic, and Will (Plate VI., Part II.).
 
Love is represented by the base of the Thumb which is covered on the hand by the Mount of Venus.
 
Logic is the middle phalange, and Will is the top or nail portion.
 
When these divisions are found large, the qualities are increased; when small, they play a smaller r?le in the life of the individual.
 
There are two distinct classes of Thumbs, the supple-jointed and the firm-jointed.
 
The former of these divisions is the Thumb bending[Pg 128] outwards and supple at the joint underneath the nail (Fig. 2, Plate III.).
 
This denotes a nature pliable and adaptable to others, very broad-minded, rather unconventional, and not obstinate in its views of life. These characteristics will be increased if the Head Line be found sloping and bending downwards. If, however, the Line of Head be found lying straight across the palm, they are more conventional. The "supple-jointed" thumb also denotes generosity of mind both as regards thought and money. In all ways these people are more extravagant than people who have the straight firm-jointed thumb. In other words they "give more" even in what they think as well as in what they do.
 
The nearer the Thumb approaches the side of the hand, or the more it looks tied down or cramped to the palm, the more the subject is inclined to grasp or hold. The true miser has always a thumb cramped towards the hand, and the nail phalange as a rule slightly turned in, as if the mind wanted to grab hold or retain.
 
The supple-jointed Thumb is more impulsive in its desire to give than is the stiff-jointed class, whereas the latter type demands reflection before he even gives an opinion.
 
If a favour should be asked of the man with the supple-jointed Thumb, one should remember that he is more inclined to give in on the impulse of the moment, and if one does not press one's point home at once, he is likely first to promise, and later, on reflection, change his mind.
 
The man with the stiff-jointed Thumb (Fig. 3, Plate III.) on the contrary, is more likely to refuse at first and on reflection to agree to the proposition; but it[Pg 130][Pg 129] he does make up his mind, he will stick to his judgment or opinion, and the more he is opposed the more determined he will be to hold to his view.
 
 
 
Fig. 1.—THE CLUBBED THUMB. Fig. 1.—THE CLUBBED THUMB.
 
Fig. 2.—THE SUPPLE-JOINTED THUMB. Fig. 3.—THE FIRM-JOINTED THUMB. Fig. 2.—THE SUPPLE-JOINTED THUMB.
Fig. 3.—THE FIRM-JOINTED THUMB.
 
Fig. 4.—THE WAIST-LIKE THUMB. Fig. 5.—THE STRAIGHT THUMB. Fig. 6.—THE ELEMENTARY THUMB. Fig. 4.—THE WAIST-LIKE THUMB.
Fig. 5.—THE STRAIGHT THUMB.
Fig. 6.—THE ELEMENTARY THUMB.
Plate III.— Part II.
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