title: The Hand, examination and diagnosis
author: AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR SURGERY OF THE HAND
description: A medical book detailing the examination and diagnosis of the human hand.
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
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  Problem of the Superfluous Finger
  
  
  This page copyright © 2004 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  # Problem of the Superfluous Finger
  
  
  ### Jacques Futrelle
  
  
  This page copyright © 2004 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  
  She drew off her left glove, a delicate, crinkled suede affair, and offered
  her bare hand to the surgeon. An artist would have called it beautiful,
  perfect, even; the surgeon, professionally enough, set it down as an excellent
  structural specimen. From the polished pink nails of the tapering fingers to
  the firm, well moulded wrist, it was distinctly the hand of a woman of ease--
  one that had never known labour, a pampered hand Dr. Prescott told himself.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "The fore-finger," she explained calmly. "I should like to have it amputated
  at the first joint, please."
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "Amputated?" gasped Dr. Prescott. He stared into the pretty face of his
  caller. It was flushed softly, and the red lips were parted in a slight smile.
  It seemed qui