CHAPTER X

 THE LINE OF HEALTH OR THE HEPATICA

 

There has been very considerable discussion among students of this subject as to the part of the hand on which the Line of Health (1-1, Plate XIX.) commences.

 

My own theory, and one that I have proved by over twenty-five years' experience and also watching its growth on the hands of children, is, that it rises at the base of or on the face of the Mount of Mercury, and as it grows across the hand and attacks the Line of Life, it foreshadows the development of illness or germ of disease, which, at the date of its coming in contact with the Line of Life, will reach the climax¹ of its attack.

 

The Line of Life, it must be remembered, merely relates to the promised length of life from heredity and natural causes, but the Line of Health denotes the effect of the class of life the subject has led. Where these two lines come together, if one is of equal strength to the other, will be the date of death, even though the Line of Life should pass this point and appear to be a much greater length (2, Plate XIX.).

 

The Line of Mercury, or of Health, relating as it does to the nervous system, and also to the mind (Mercury), lends itself to the supposition that the all-knowing[Pg 84] subconscious² brain is cognisant, even at an early age, of the force of resistance in the nervous system. It may know how long this force will last, when it will be exhausted³, and consequently may mark the hand long years in advance.

 

 

Plate XIX. THE LINE OF HEALTH. Plate XIX. THE LINE OF HEALTH.

The Line of Health is one of the lines of the hand most subject to changes. It is the thermometer of the life showing its "rise and fall" as the case may be. I have seen this mysterious line look deep and threatening[Pg 85] during the early years of a life, and completely fade away as greater health and strength took possession of the body.

 

Again, I have often seen it look deeper and more ominous⁴ as the wear and tear, especially of the nervous system, began to make itself manifest, or when the subject over-taxed his mental strength.

 

Further, it is an excellent sign to be without this line altogether. Its absence denotes an extremely robust⁵, strong constitution, and a healthy state of the nervous system.

 

If a hand has the Line of Health, the best position for it is to lie straight down the hand, and not approach or touch the Line of Life (3-3, Plate XIX.). When found crossing the hand, and touching⁶ or throwing branches across to the Line of Life, it foretells⁷ that there is some illness at work which is undermining the health.

 

If it rises and seems like a branch from the Heart Line, especially if both these lines are broad in appearance and with the Health Line running down the palm coming in contact with the Line of Life, it is a certain indication of weakness or disease of the heart.

 

The student should always observe the kind of nails there are on the hand when thinking out the diseases indicated by the Line of Health.[6]

 

[6] See Chapter on Nails, page 136.

 

When the finger nails are short, without moons, and round, and the Line of Health is strongly marked, he may be sure that nervous weak action of the heart is decidedly threatened.

 

When the nails are long and almond-shaped, there is danger of weakness and delicacy⁸ of the lungs. With the same shape of nails, and with islands in the[Pg 86] upper part of the Health Line (4, Plate XIX.), consumption of the lungs and tuberculosis⁹ will make itself manifest.

 

When the nails are very flat, and especially shell-shaped (see Plate V., Part II.), and the Line of Health is deeply marked, paralysis¹⁰ and the worst forms of nerve diseases are threatening the subject.

 

When this line is very red in small spots, especially when pressed, rheumatic fever is indicated.

 

When twisted, irregular, and yellowish in colour, the subject will suffer from biliousness¹¹ and liver complaints.

 

When found heavily marked, and only joining the Heart and Head Lines together, it foreshadows brain-fever, especially when any islands are marked on the Line of Head.

 

The Line of Health, running straight down the hand but not touching the Line of Life, indicates that though the constitution may not be robust, it is wiry, and there is great reserve resistance to disease.

 

In connection with the examination of the Line of Health, the student must always look for other indications to the rest of the lines of the hand, more especially to the Line of Life and Line of Head. For instance, when the Line of Life looks very chained and weak, the Health Line on a hand will naturally increase the danger of delicate health; and when found with a Line of Head full of little islands, or like a chain, such a Health Line more clearly foreshadows brain disease, severe headaches, etc.

 

By a study of this line the most valuable warnings may be given of approaching ill-health. Whether persons will follow the warnings or not is a question. My experience is that they do not and will not, and[Pg 87] therefore, whatever is indicated will most probably come to pass.

 

Providence¹² places many signposts and warnings in our paths, but human nature is either too blind or too self-confident to notice them until it is too late.

1 climax   

n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点

参考例句：

• The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
• His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

2 subconscious   

n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的)

参考例句：

• Nail biting is often a subconscious reaction to tension.咬指甲通常是紧张时的下意识反映。
• My answer seemed to come from the subconscious.我的回答似乎出自下意识。

3 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

4 ominous   

adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的

参考例句：

• Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
• There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。

5 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

6 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

7 foretells   

v.预言，预示( foretell的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It is a kind of oracle that often foretells things most important. 它是一种内生性神谕，常常能预言最重要的事情。 来自互联网
• What the Old Testament foretells the New Testament fulfils, in part. 旧约圣经的预言在新约圣经中部分实现了。 来自互联网

8 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

9 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

10 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

11 biliousness   

[医] 胆汁质

参考例句：

12 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。