Of the Elbow.

The elbow has nine movements, three primitive, as genera, and nine derivative, as species.  There are the forward and backward movements of the normal state.  There are three degrees of height, and finally the forward and backward movements of extension.

The elbow movements are relational.  The epicondyle is called the eye of the arm.

Man slightly moves the torso, then the shoulder, and finally the elbow.

Among persons who would fain crush others, there is an elbow movement which seems to say, “I annihilate thee, I am above thee.”

The elbow turned outward signifies strength, power, audacity, domination, arrogance, abruptness, activity, abundance.  The elbow drawn inward, signifies impotence, fear, subordination, humility, passiveness, poverty of spirit.

Modest people have a slight outward movement of the elbow.  The humble make an inward movement.  The elbow thrust forward or backward, indicates a yielding character.

These movements should not be taken alone; they must be verified by the torso and the head.  The shoulder characterizes the expression of the elbow movements, just as the elbow verifies marked exaltation, by the elevation of the shoulder.

It is by these little things that we determine millions of movements and their meaning.  We finally determine and class precisely five million movements of the different agents of the arm.  This would seem enormous; but it is nothing at all; it is childlike simplicity.  The elements being known, the process is always the same.  Hence the advantage of possessing a criterion.  With this criterion, we have everything.  If we possess nine, we possess twenty millions, which are no more than nine.

Of the Wrist.

The wrist is a directing instrument for the forearm and the hand.

The wrist has its three movements.

It is eccentric when the extensor muscles are in motion.

It is normal in the horizontal position.

It is concentric when the flexor muscles are in action.

In the concentric position the wrist is in pronation, for the thumb is turned downward; this is the sign of a powerful will, because the pronator muscles have more power than the flexors.

In the eccentric position the wrist is in supination; that is, the back of the hand is downward; this is the sign of impotence.

The wrist has also forward and backward movements, either in pronation, in supination, or the normal state.  Thus there are nine phases for the wrist.

It is through the aid of the wrist that the aspects of the hand, placed upon the cube, receive, as we shall see, their precise signification.

The orator needs great suppleness in wrist movements to give grace to the phases of the hand.

Of the Hand.

Man is perforce painter, poet, inspired dreamer or mystic, and scientist.