It required a steady, strong hand, and plenty of practice.

His sister would not let her husband touch the wire-drawing since he was subject to coughing spells.

She had strong arms for it; he had seen her draw gold to the fineness of a hair.
Lorilleux, seized with a fit of coughing, almost doubled up on his stool.

In the midst of the paroxysm, he spoke, and said in a choking voice, still without looking at Gervaise, as though he was merely mentioning the thing to himself: "I'm making the herring-bone chain." Coupeau urged Gervaise to get up.

She might draw nearer and see.