_Sixthly_, that all this is readily accounted for on the simplest, though till now unexplained, anatomical and physiological grounds. And as regards the different persons and classes already mentioned, who earn their living with their fingers, it would have been easy to prevent the various diseases of the same to which they are exposed, if the joints of their fingers and hands had previously been daily practised, strengthened, and prepared by transversal and longitudinal gymnastic exercises. And more than this, those sad infirmities might, in most cases, either have been entirely cured or at any rate alleviated by the above muscular treatment. Besides, a continuance of the same diseases would be easily obviated, if such treatment were resorted to. Then I asked myself, “Is any one to blame that the facts just mentioned have not been previously known and acted upon?” No one. It certainly is not the fault of the artist and teacher, because their task, so great in itself, did not necessarily lead them to direct their attention to this speciality of gymnastics. Nor could anatomists and physicians, nor other learned men, in treating problems more nearly, and perhaps more important in themselves, be expected to have thought of it. As we are frequently indebted to chance for the most important discoveries, so it has been with this one. For my part, I lay claim to very little. The idea had taken hold of me that a hiatus and a want in the method of learning and practising music, also in finger-work of various kinds, existed, and I set to work to fill up the former and to satisfy the latter. For several years I have indefatigably pursued this work in Germany, and after multifarious trials, experiments, and exercises, I have happily achieved the following simple system of gymnastics, whose aim and object, as regards _music_, after full and complete proof, are; by strengthening the muscles and stretching the ligaments through careful training, to impart to them flexibility and agility, to shorten considerably the time of study, and facilitate the work of both teachers and students; whilst as regards all classes generally who work with their fingers, it is calculated to a great extent to render their work more easy, and in case of disease of the fingers and hands, to prevent it, to cure it, or at the least to diminish its injurious consequences.