When the entire hand is covered with a multitude of fine lines like a net spreading over its surface, it tells that the nature is intensely nervous and sensitive, but one that will be continually disturbed and worried by little thoughts and troubles that would be of no importance whatever to others.
This is particularly so if the palm be soft—such people imagine all sorts of things in the way of ailments and troubles; but if the palm of the hand be hard and firm, it denotes an energetic, excitable nature, but one that is far more successful for other people than for self.
Smooth Hands
Very smooth hands with few lines belong to people calm in temperament and even in disposition. They seldom if ever worry; they rarely lose temper, but when they do they know the reason why. This is again modified by the palm being hard or soft. When firm, it is a greater sign of control and calmness than when soft. In the latter case it is not so much a matter of control as of indifference: the subject will not take sufficient interest to lose temper—that would be too much of an exertion.
The Skin
When the palm of the hand is covered naturally with a very fine light skin, the subject will retain the buoyancy and temperament of youth much longer than the person with a coarse skin. This is of course much affected by work, but I am speaking of cases where little labor or manual work is done; yet even where there is manual work this can still be observed by the ridges p. 135 of the skin. It has been proved that even as regards this point no two hands are ever alike; consequently, while work may thicken the cuticle, its individuality remains the same.
The Color of the Palm
The color of the palm is far more important than the color of the outside of the hands. This at first sight appears strange, but a little observation will prove its truth.
The palm of the hand is under the immediate control and action of the nerves and of the nerve-fluid. According to scientists, there are more nerves in the hand than in any other portion of the body, and, again, more in the palm than in any other portion of the hand. As regards the nerve-fluid, Abercrombie, in his work published in London in 1838, states that “the communication of preception from the senses to the mind has been accounted for by the motions of the nervous fluid, a subtle essence resembling electricity or galvanism.” It therefore follows that this subtle essence must affect the palm more than any other portion of the body. There is every reason, therefore, why the color of the palm should be of more importance than that of the back of the hand.
It will be found that almost every palm has a distinct color and can be classed as follows:
When pale or almost white in color, the subject will take very little interest in anything outside of himself—in other words, he will be selfish, egotistical, and unsympathetic.
When the palm is yellowish in color, the subject will be morbid, melancholy, and morose.
When a delicate pink, the nature is sanguine, hopeful, and bright; and when very red, robust in health and spirits, ardent, passionate, and quick-tempered.