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 climax 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] subconscious 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 exhausted, 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 ominous 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 robust, 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 touching or throwing branches across to the line of life, it foretells 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 delicacy 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 tuberculosis 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, paralysis 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 biliousness 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.
providence 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.
