The first, you remember, is the nailed phalanx, second the middle, third the lower one. The fingers so considered will tell whether the subject will use the qualities of his type for mental advancement, for practical pursuits, or for more sordid ends. Note also the tips of the fingers to see if the subject will be guided by Spatulate, Square, Conic, or Pointed qualities in carrying out the purposes of his type. Observe whether the fingers are set in regular fashion, or whether one finger is placed lower on the palm than the others. Remember that any finger placed low takes away from its Mount a portion of its strength. If the finger encroaches so that the Mount is one third shorter than the others, you can consider the Mount as having two thirds of the normal strength. Apply this method to every Mount having low-set fingers. Remember if a finger leans toward another Mount, it gives some of its strength to the Mount toward which it leans. If a finger tends to crookedness, this will add to the strength of the Mount to which it belongs, and gives added shrewdness, even dishonesty, to the qualities of the finger.

To judge the meaning of this crooked finger, note which phalanx is the strongest, and the shrewdness shown by the crooking of the finger will expend itself on the mental, material, or baser plane shown by the first, second, or third phalanx best developed. Sometimes one finger will be flexible and the others either stiff or normal. In this case the flexible finger will show the elastic mind (as treated in chapter on Flexibility), and the flexible quality will apply to the qualities of the single finger only. Sometimes there will be found a different tip on each Mounts and Fingers - How to Judge Them 191 finger, and, this being the case, apply the Spatulate, Square, Conic, and Pointed qualities to each individual finger having them. As each of the seven types is liable to certain diseases which may be told from the Mounts, look carefully at the nail of each finger and see what health indications are given. If all the nails but one are smooth, and that one is fluted, the health qualities of that type are in danger of a nervous complication, to be determined from shape and quality of the nail.

For instance, the Apollonian is prone to weak heart; if on one of this type a fluted nail is found on the finger of Apollo, it is certain that the subject has both a tendency to weak heart (peculiar to the type) and also extreme nervousness, as shown by the fluted nail. This manner of reasoning will apply to all kinds of nails. A health defect, shown by the shape, texture, or color of the nail on any finger, brings out the health defect of its Mount type. If the subject is prone to more than one disease, the nail will show which one is prominent in his case. For example, the Saturnian is liable to biliousness, paralysis, etc. Yellow nails by themselves will show that biliousness is one of his troubles; fluted and brittle nails will show that there is a nerve disturbance; yellow nails which are also fluted and brittle will show that he is troubled with both. By following a system like this, and applying it with your Mount types, you can most accurately estimate what disease the subject has had, or is likely to have. Note whether the fingers belong to the short class.

If they do, the quick-thinking, quick-acting traits of short fingers must be added to the estimate of the operation of the Mount. Remember, quickness of thought and action, impulse, impatience at detail, and desire to deal with all subjects in their entirety, also a strong desire to achieve big things, are the characteristics of short fingers. Apply all this in reading the Mounts. If only one finger belongs to this short class, apply the short-fingered qualities to that one Mount, not to all.

If long fingers are seen, remember their love of detail, slowness, suspicion, care in small things, and their instinct for going into the minutiae in everything. Apply long-fingered qualities to the Mounts. If only one finger is long, apply the long-fingered qualities to its Mount.

On meeting knotty fingers, remember the analytical, reasoning, investigating qualities that belong to them. If only the first knot of mental order is developed, remember these people have stored away much knowledge, all well classified and arranged. These qualities, added to the Mounts, will make the subject an intelligent example of his class. It will make the type operate in a well-ordered way mentally, though these subjects may lack system in material things. At this point consult the tips of the fingers. The mental order and intelligence of the subject will be directed in Spatulate, Square, Conic, or Pointed directions according as these tips are found. If the knot of mental order is only found on one finger, apply its characteristics to the qualities of the finger on which it is found. The presence of the first knot in this case will also identify your subject as belonging to the type indicated by the finger on which the knot is seen. If only the knot of material order is developed, remember the order and system in the household, the store, the dress, which belongs to this knot, and apply it to the Mounts. If found on only one finger, apply it to the qualities of that finger.

If both knots are developed, apply their philosophic tendencies to the Mounts; found only on one finger, apply to that Mount alone.

If smooth fingers are found remember the artistic instincts they indicate, the action by impulse and intuition, rather than by reasoning, and apply these qualities to the Mounts. If only one finger is smooth, apply smooth-fingered qualities to the one Mount.

Bear in mind all the time that short fingers may have knotty joints, as well as any shaped tips. In this case, take quickness of thought (short fingers) added to analytical tendencies (knotty joints), and you get a quick rea-soner, more or less practical or visionary according to the tips. Smooth, short fingers show the height of all short-fingered qualities; they are more practical and somewhat Mounts and Fingers - How to Judge Them 193 slower of operation with the spatulate and square tips, and, with conic or pointed tips, like a flash in their quickness. Apply all of these qualities to the Mounts, or, if only found on one finger, to the individual finger.