Now that which begat or promoted the common opinion, was the common conceit that the Heart was seated on the left side; but how far this is verified, we have before declared. The _Egyptian_ practice hath much advanced the same, who unto this _Finger_ derived a Nerve from the Heart; and therefore the Priest anointed the same with precious oyls before the Altar. But how weak _Anatomists_ they were, which were so good Embalmers, we have already shewed. And though this reason took most place, yet had they another which more commended that practice: and that was the number whereof this _Finger_ was an Hieroglyphick. For by holding down the fourth _Finger_ of the left Hand, while the rest were extended, they signified the perfect and magnified number of six. For as _Pierius_ hath graphically declared, Antiquity expressed numbers by the _Fingers_ of either Hand: on the left they accounted their digits and articulate numbers unto an hundred; on the right Hand hundreds and thousands; the depressing this _Finger_, which in the left Hand implied but six, in the right indigitated six hundred. In this way of numeration, may we construe that of _Juvenal_ concerning _Nestor_,
----_Qui per tot sæcula mortem Distulit, atque suos jam dextrâ computat annos._
And however it were intended, in this sense it will be very elegant what is delivered of Wisdom, _Prov._ 3. Length of daies is in her right Hand, and in her left Hand riches and honour.
As for the observation of _Lemnius_ an eminent Physitian, concerning the Gout; however it happened in his Country, we may observe it otherwise in ours; that is, that chiragrical persons do suffer in this _Finger_ as well as in the rest, and sometimes first of all, and sometimes no where else. And for the mixing up medicines herewith; it is rather an argument of opinion, then any considerable effect; and we as highly conceive of the practice in _Diapalma_, that is, in the making of that plaister, to stir it with the stick of a Palm.
It is also suspicious, and not with that certainty to be received, what is generally believed concerning the right and left hand; that Men naturally make use of the right, and that the use of the other is a digression or aberration from that way which nature generally intendeth. We do not deny that almost all Nations have used this hand, and ascribed a preheminence thereto: hereof a remarkable passage there is in the 48. of _Genesis_, And _Joseph_ took them both, _Ephraim_ in his right hand towards _Israels_ left hand, and _Manasses_ in his left hand towards _Israels_ right hand, and _Israel_ stretched out his right hand and laid it upon _Ephraims_ head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon _Manasses_ head, guiding his hands wittingly, for _Manasses_ was the first-born; and when _Joseph_ saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of _Ephraim_, it displeased him, and he held up his fathers hand to remove it from _Ephraims_ head unto _Manasses_ head, and _Joseph_ said, Not so my father, for this is the first-born, put thy right hand upon his head: The like appeareth from the ordinance of _Moses_ in the consecration of their Priests, Then shalt thou kill the Ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of _Aaron_, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of the right hand, and upon the great toe of the right foot, and sprinkle the blood on the Altar round about. That the _Persians_ were wont herewith to plight their faith, is testified by _Diodorus_: That the _Greeks_ and _Romans_ made use hereof, beside the testimony of divers Authors, is evident from their custom of discumbency at their meals, which was upon their left side, for so their right hand was free, and ready for all service. As also from the conjunction of the right hands and not the left observable in the _Roman_ medals of concord. Nor was this only in use with divers Nations of Men, but was the custom of whole Nations of Women; as is deduceable from the Amazones in the amputation of their right breast, whereby they had the freer use of their bow. All which do seem to declare a natural preferment of the one unto motion before the other; wherein notwithstanding in submission to future information, we are unsatisfied unto great dubitation.