The Nails

The Nails

I decline introducing into this work - which is essentially a practical, and, as far as possible, reliable Guide to hand-reading, the unsubstantiated indications furnished by the white or dark spots on the nails and by the examination of the moons at the lower part of the nails.

A branch of chiromancy known by the name of Onychomancy (divination by the nails) obtained some success in the XVII Century, but it never reached that point when it could be admitted on a par with the more ancient and more satisfactorily verified Palmistry, and I prefer leaving it out of my present treatise.

I may state, however, that Medical men have often admitted in my presence, that numerous white spots on the nails indicate poverty of the blood and defective circulation, while Black or bluish spots on the nails frequently accompany poisoning of the blood, especially in cases of cholera or yellow fever, and even typhoid fever, diphtheria and small-pox.