Bulwer, John

, of the seventeenth century, was author of several books of the language of the hand, of physiognomy, and of instructions to the deaf and dumb, intended, as he expresses it, “to bring those who are so born to hear the sound of words with their eyes, and thence to learn to speak with their tongues.” This is explained in his “Chirologia, or the natural Language of the Hand, &c.” 1644, 8vo. He was also, author of “Pathomyotomia,” or a dissection of the significative muscles of the affections of the mind, 1649, 12mo. The most curious of his works is his “Anthropo-metamorphosis; Man transformed, or the artificial changeling;” 1653, 4to, in which he shews what a strange variety of shapes and dresses mankind have appeared in, in the different ages and nations of the world. At the end bf the first edition of this book in 12mo is a catalogue of the author’s works in print and ms. What he calls the language of the hand, or the art of speaking by the fingers, is yet known in every boardingichool and nursery, where, however, the more natural substitute is very soon learned. ²