Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-27
DUE TO DAILY LABOR.
Marks and Scars Which Indicate the
Calling Followed.

From the New York Herald
The majority of manual trades, II not all,
leave their physical scars on those who ex
erc.se them. The artisans hands are espe-
oially marked by the different trades in
which they are employed. But the fact Is
not generally known that these profession
al deformit:es are distinct among them
selves, that each particular kind Of labor
imprints different scar and that they are
characteristic of the trade By their means
a given profession can often be recognized
in an effective manner.
For example, we see young girl whose
hands are blackened, on the left forefinger
is a callous spot similar to that seen on the
hand of the seamstress, but blacker, thick
err and rougher. This woman Is stftcher
Of Shoes
Artisans using the hammer or an instru-
ment with a round handle which Is held in
the fist; gymnasts, who handle ropes and
hang suspended to trapezes and horizontal
bars. all bear on their hands, either one or
the thumb and forefnger. a large, round,
callous spot. 1t is the form, the position.
this number and grouping Of these callous
spots which determine the trade.
Joipers and cabinet makers, who handle
the jointing plane, are known by very
prominent callous spot on the back of the
right hand. at the juncture of the first and
second phalanx of the forefinger. Besides,
the varnish used by the cabinet maker
leaves peculiar tint behind it.
Stone cutters have the ordinary marks
usual to workmen who handle the hammer
in the right hand. And as they hold their
mallet so that the head rests on the thumb
and forefinger, a callouS spot forms on the
joining of the two phalanxes of the thumb
and another at the base of the forefinger.
In the left hand they hold their chisel, the
head Of which is fattened by the blows of
the mallet. Along the upturned fingers
callous spot forms and another on the back
of the little finger,
Marks of Hairdresscrs.
Hairdressers who make a speciality of
using curling irons, bear on their right
hand two characteristic callous spots like
corns. The first Is located on the back of
the second phalanx of the annular; the
second on the palmar face of the thumb,
on the inside edge of the first phalanx.
There Is also noticed among those who
have exercised the profession for some time
a certain permanent swelling of the thorax
on the right side, occasioned by the pre-
dominant play of the shoulder muscles:
Copyists, especially old ones, bear on the
little finger Of the right hand lateral
backward spot which is often very prom
inent The penholder also leaves very
deep furrow on the tip of the middle finger
The finger tips of both hands of a harpist
are callous, only the two little fingers are
uninjured. Then, again, coachmen carry
different scars on both hands. The right
hand, which holds the whip, bears similar
voar. tba laft how'd h.ars the MARKS left nv
the reins-two callous ridges. one between
tr,aen the middle ana annrlar fingers.
The thumb nail of the right hand of
uatchm,kars asDacialIv renaIrers Ia very
W. e1 pa , fro1,, onnstont,y
onanirn r,atob case. Tba tbun,h and Fore
finger Of the left hand hold the small
works of the dissected watch or clock as
close together as though held in vice.
loot aI,nost destrove5 nv the constant
1riction Of the &c II was nv these char
antartstto ,n,rLs tbat tha wotchmakar,s
hond in the caIabrated crime at Ioiqnv in
Nav 1893 was racoenized
Scars OF the Laundry.
Two kinds of scars are found on the
hands NJ Observation-Disclosures and injury
IL. $500 a. - Tha
To 'he shih' Win e"""ee ~ eoo
are callous from using the bat, the handle
of which ia held In the fist The fingers
- -, ~, a1osad auar ,n ranose
o1ten remain haii cioseo' sven III fepose.
Besides the callosities. injury to and dis
coloration of the skin, there are other pro-
fessonal marks sometimes associated with
The foregoinp For example. here is a
INC s - 80 ~. White
WORKING "ohah' "noSe iao' " ~
glossy, free from cailous spots. no scars or
special coloring; You would call them IN,
dolent hands. But II you look closely you
will remark the peculiar formation of the
thumb and index fingers. Their uppermost
pnaiahAes are iilt'eiieu Gu go .;e;1
flower maker and that she rolls the flowers
between her deformed fingers. This mall
formation mas been caleo spoonful
hEgers. 80 .boo,,o,or. h.,on,
.snncisIIv 70 thai trade The shoemaker's
hands are black and callous, the nails f1aky.
The fold of the index, between the second
ana tnlra pnalahH' Is rea anu l''ir T, ny
Of the two hands on tne side of the aurcn
lar. is thickened by the hand leather which
ia used to draw the thread over, and the
cuts made by this leave dark ridges on the
back of the fingers At their under eX-
tremity the skin of the two index fingers
Ia worn and Jagged by the pointed head and
nails which these fingers put in place and
press down firmly before giving the final
blow with the hammer AS to the right
hand, it carries, with the ordinary marks
due to handling the hammer a charac ter
isttc scar at the base of the first phaanX
of the thumb on the inside 1t is caused
by the use of the knife This tool Is a
thin sheet of steel. slightly curved in its