Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-03
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
THE HUMAN HAND.

Issuing from the wrist is that wonderful
organ, the human hand. "In French book,
Intended" says Sir Charles Bell, ITO teach
young people philosopy. the pupil asks why
the fingers are not of equal length? The
master makes the scholar grasp ball otivory
to show him that the points of the fingers are
then equal 1t would have been better had
he closed the fingers upon the PLAN, and
then have asked whether or not they CORES
ponded. This difference in the length of the
fingers serves thousands purposes, rs in
holding rod, switch, sword, hammer.
pen, pencil, or engraving tool, in all which
secure hold and freedom of motion are ad-
mirably combined" On the length, and
perfectly free movements of the thumb de-
pends, moreover, the power of the human
hand. TO the thumb, indeed, has been given
n special name, Poiler, from Latin verb
meaning to be able, strong, mighty, because
Of its strength: n strength that is necessary
to the power of the hand, being equal to that
of all the fingers. Without the feshy ball
of the thumb. the power of the fingers would
be of no avail and accordingly the large ball
formed by the muscles Of the thumb is the
special mark of the human hand, and par
ticuarly that of clever workman. The loss
| AS''' -
the hand. Conscripts, unwilling to serve IN
the army of France. have been known to
disable themselves etfectually by cutting oft
the thumb of the right hand The loss of
! both thumbs would reduce man to mlser-
able dependence. Nor should we overlook
another pcculiarity Were the tips of the
fingers and the thumbs bony instead OF being
covered with flesh. many things we readily
do would be absolutely impossible. We now
can take up what is small, soft, and round.
! as a millet seed, or even particle OF human
hair. So exquisitely prehensile are the
human fingers. The nails are often OF special
service; perhaps always in works OF art which
require nicely Of execution. Their substance
| is lust what is needed; they are easily Kept
at the precise length which answers every
purpose; had they been placed on the tips OF
! the fingers there would have been loss o!
! power but their position ensures their high
! est efficiency An interchange Of power tor
velocity which takes place in the arms adapts
the hand and fingers toa thousand arts requir-
ing quick or lively motions. In setting up
the type of this page, there have been move
ments on the part of the compositor OF sur
prising rapidity to any ordinary observer. and
the execution Of performers on the piano
| forte as well as on many wind instruments,
| is often astonishing: these are among many
instances of the advantage gained by this
sacrifice of force for velocity of movement
CasseWs Popular Natural History.
rs- DYSPEPSIA DYSPEPSIAm DYsPEP-
SIAn!-WHAT Is 1T? How CrRED?-Dyspepsia Is
our National Disease-wcak stomach, feeble di
gcstion distress after eating, costve habit bilious
| condition How many suffer with il and its atten-
lant symptoms of low spirits, bad taste, coated
tongue, obstupihed head and attacks Of headache!
Yet how few know how TO cure it. Generally, be-
cause the bowels are constipated resort Is had to
cathartics, or laxatives. But such condition
was never cured by catbartics, whose only Office is
to weaken the digestion and impair the integrity ot
the entire assmiatye system.
But HUMPHREYS HOMEOPATHIC DiS-
| PEPSIA PILLS. simple medicated sugar Pill
have cured hundreds OF the worst and most OBJ
stinatc cases. Thi, is done simply by Improving
the tone aud restoring the integrity Of the digcs'
tive organs, from which result good appetite,
regular habits, clear head, and buOyapt spiris.
Such medicine is gem, and only requires to be
| known to be appreciated.
Price, IS cents per box, with directions. Elk
boxes 81. .--
N.B.-A full set of HrxruREYs' HOMEOPATHIC
SPECIFICS, with Book Of Directions, and twenty
different Remedies, in large rals, morocco case,
| IS; do in plain case, 81; family case Of Is boxes
and book, So.
These Remedies, by the single box or case, are
sent by mail or express free Of charge, TO any ad
dress, on receipt of the price. Address
DIR. F. HUMPHREYS 4 Co,
| No. 562 Broadway, New York.
| Sold in Alexandria by J. WILLIAM BOW
LING, and by all Druggists. my l9-eo2w
| CtAUTiON.-we beg leave to caution purcha
| " sers of our choice OLD MONONGAHELA
| WHISTLES against the deception and petty fraud
which is practiced by certain parties in this city
and in Baltimore who have appropriated t" them
| selves exact copies Of the Star Brands, long used
and desgned by US to distinguish our Old hiskeys.
! We ran assure friends and customers, that the
unriyalled quality, everywhere acknowledged, OF
our choice OLD WHISTLES, cannot be equalied
| by these ingenious invaders Of our rights
Our new establishment, dIBsoSTos MILLS, on
the Monongahela River, gives US unequsled faeili'
ties for making Whiskey of the choicest kind, from
matted and kiln dried grain.
| Purchasers of our Old Whiskies will please to
| notice. the words GIBs0NToS MILLS and JOHN dIB-
! SON, Sous Co., are inserted in the new Brands
| which we now adopt; and we deem il duty to our
customers and ourselves, 10 give notice, that We
will prosecute and expose any person or person,
who may hereafter copy or use our Brands.
JOHN GIBSON, SONS & co.
Philadelphia, oct Idly
GREENS MANSION HOUSE,
! CORNER OF CAMERON ASD FAlRFAA STS.
nNHIS we'll known and POPULAR HOTEL
| having undergone a THORGEGH REyOFA-
! everything complete, for the convenience and ac-
commodation of BOARDERS and TRAVELLERS.
nzty- The Proprietor has secured the services Of
IGE0RGE l.. STEWART and SAMUEL i.
! GREGORY. under whose joint management NO
pains will he spared to sustain the reputation OF
m.