To convince yourself that this opinion is correct, extend your fingers for two minutes only with the cylinders alluded to, and you will find that the fingers instantaneously move much more easily, and that the muscles, liberated from their tight, stiff neighbours, act with much greater freedom. In the same manner as with the cylinders, the greatest advantage may be experienced from the use of the gymnastic staff or stick. The principle on which these movements are founded is, that by them almost all the muscles of the hand and the fingers, the smallest as well as the largest, which in playing musical instruments and all the other occupations of the fingers bear the chief part, are stirred into action. At the same time, the extraordinary effect of the free exercises on the large finger-joints and on the ligaments and tendons is increased. And further—every portion of the hand and fingers, ligaments, tendons, joints, and particularly the muscles, are well practised, strengthened, and rendered flexible, by the fingers being stretched and extended on, pressed and exercised against, a solid body. Finally, while imparting to the muscles of the fingers and hand far greater strength and ease than the continued quick movement on the musical instrument is calculated to affect, all these exercises affect the _nerves_ in a lesser degree, and prepare the fingers for all kinds of work. These results, observed and tested by me countless times, are of the greatest importance to all those who work with their fingers, but more particularly to those engaged in musical pursuits, who, instead of being overwhelmed with fatiguing work as before, will find that by these exercises their studies are facilitated and divested of much of their previous trouble and vexation. THE WRIST. This joint, which for players on the piano and other instruments is of such great importance (Fig. 2 _c_), should also be exercised gymnastically; since, by means of the gymnastic exercises here recommended, strength and flexibility will be gained in a very short time, and a great deal of trouble saved. Nor ought it to be overlooked that for all those who work with their fingers, a flexible, pliant wrist is a great help, and that by it all the joints of the hand are made to act harmoniously together. FOOTNOTES: [4] Anatomists and physicians of great eminence have observed to me, “Your anatomical researches have solved some important questions long held in dispute by physiologists, and are of great practical value.” CHAPTER IV. NEGLECT HITHERTO OF THE HAND AND FINGERS.