The pupil may do this many times a day with great advantage; for by this process the ligaments and tendons of the knuckles are stretched and loosened, and the muscles are set free.
Of course always with due moderation.
Another very important exercise, bearing chiefly on the tendons and ligaments of the large metacarpal joints or knuckles, is the following:
With the thumb and forefinger of the one hand take hold of one finger of the other hand, and shake it up and down, for one minute, to its root. Then take the other fingers in succession in like manner. To be applied equally to both hands, and to be done, especially with the 4th and 5th fingers separately, as often as leisure permits.
To this category belongs also ANOTHER EXERCISE of the metacarpal joints or knuckles. Into the palm of one outstretched hand place the closed fingers or fist of the other: then open and close the latter as fast and as long a time as is agreeable, always continuing to press upon the palm. Change hands and repeat. Ever remember that the difficulties of bringing the fingers into order lie, physiologically, almost all in the middle-hand bones or knuckles; and as the five preceding exercises,—and especially the three last,—act in a very efficient and special manner upon the ligaments, tendons, and muscles of these and the other joints of the fingers, they cannot be made too often.
CHAPTER XIII.
MECHANICAL FINGER-EXERCISES (CONTINUED).
It is not sufficient to play the ordinary finger-exercises and scales. As has been shown in the opening chapters, and in the anatomical representations of the hand, all the fingers are not equally strong; for instance, the 4th and 5th fingers are, by nature, much weaker than the others, and it is necessary to remedy this inequality.
Each finger ought, therefore, to have gymnastic exercises for itself, and they ought to be performed on some solid body, which can be firmly grasped. For this purpose take a round staff, from 12 to 18 inches long, and half to three quarters of an inch thick, on which, at a proper distance from one another, round indentations are made, and into which the fingers are to be placed after the manner illustrated in the adjoining and following figures.