Lumbricales, or Flexores primi Internodii Digitorum, are situated in the hollow of the hand, and pass to their tendinous implantations with the interossei at the first joint of each finger, externally and laterally, next the thumb (Fig. 4 _a_, _b_). These perform those minute motions of the fingers when the second and third internodes are curvated by the muscles, and therefore are used in playing musical instruments, whence they are named Musculi Fidicinales, or fiddle-muscles.[3] FOOTNOTES: [2] Luther Holden, Manual of Anatomy (London, 1861), Lecturer on Anatomy in Bartholomew’s Hospital. Hermann Meyer: Lehrbuch der Physiologischen Anatomie. Leipzig, 1856. [3] William Cowper, Myotomia reformata. London, 1724. Richard Quain, Professor of Clinical Surgery, Surgeon Extraordinary to the Queen. CHAPTER III. EFFECTS OF THIS GYMNASTIC TREATMENT ON THE MUSCLES, LIGAMENTS, AND JOINTS OF THE FINGERS AND THE HAND.[4] After the explanations just given, it may readily be conceived what effects the cylinders placed between the fingers and the gymnastic staff must produce on the joints and ligaments of the hand. 1. The ligaments connecting the bones of the middle-hand amongst themselves and with the fingers (Fig. 2 _aa_) are extended and stretched (Fig. 3 _bb_), and thus those joints, so important in playing on musical instruments, are rendered more moveable. 2. The connecting links between the bones of the middle-hand and the bones of the wrist are loosened (Fig. 2 _bb_). 3. Almost all the ligaments of the cavity of the hand are made flexible. 4. At the same time, all the muscles of the hand, and particularly the muscles situated between the bones (Fig. 4 _b_), generally so little practised, are stirred into activity by the cylinders, the stick, the staff, and the free exercises. From the diagrams (Fig. 2 and 3) it may be plainly seen, what was mentioned before, viz., that the movement of the middle-hand and of the bones of the wrist in general, unless specially practised, is very inconsiderable; while through the cylinder gymnastics prescribed in this work, that limited movement of the bones is rendered more easy. It may also be seen from the diagrams that, if both the great and the small _tight transversal ligaments_ remain still and firm, they impede and render more difficult the free movement of the fingers in every direction; and these ligaments will always remain stiff and tight, unless they be specially trained. [Illustration: Fig. 4.] For this reason the cylinder exercise, just mentioned, is particularly intended to loosen the impeding _transversal ligaments_, as well as to exercise and strengthen all the muscles of the hand and fingers.