Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-01-03
Causes of Left. Hand dedness,

1he question has been much discussed among
anatomlsts, whether the properties of the right
hand, In comparison with those of the left. &c
pend ON the course of the arteries to it, 1t is
affirmed that the trunk of the artery going 70
the right arm passes off from the heart 30 as
to admit the blood directly and more forcibly
into the small vessels of the arm This is As
signing cause which is unequal to the effect,
and presenting altogether too confined a view
OF the subject; 1t Is a participation in the COM
mon error of seeking in the mechanism the
cause OF phenomena which have deeper
source
For the convenience of life, and to make us
prompt and dexterous. it is pretty evident that
there ought to be no hesitation which hand is
to be used, or which foot is to be put forward;
nor Is there in fact any such indecision. Is
this taught, or have we this readiness given 10
US by nature? 1t must be observed at the
same time, that there is a distinction in the
whole right side of the body. and that the left
SIDE Is not only the weaker in regard to mus
cular strength, but also in its vital or constitu-
tiOnal properties. The development of the or.
gans Of action and motion is greatest upon the
right side, as may at any time be ascertained
by measurement, or the testimony of the tailor
or shoemaker; certainly, this superiority may
be said to result from the more frequent e1er-
tiOn of the right hand; but the popularity ex-
tends to the constitution also, and diseases at
tacks the right extremities more frequently
than the right.
In Opera-dancers, we may see that the most
difficult feats are performed by the right foot
But their preparatory exercises better evince
the natural weakness of the left limb in order
to av"i1 awkwardness in the public exhibition:
for IT those exercises be neglected an ungrace-
iul performance will be given to the right side
In walking behind person, it is very seldom
that we see an egualized motion of the body;
and, If we look to the left foot, we shall fnd
that the tread Is not so firm upon it, that the
toe Is not so much turned out Us in the right
and that greater push is made with it. From
the peculiar form of woman and the elasticity
of her step, resulting more from the motion of
the ankle than Of the launches, the defect of
the left foot, when it exists, is more apparent
in her gait. No boy hops upon his left foot
unless he be left handed The horseman puts
his left foot in the strip, and springs from the
right.
We think that we may conclude that every
thing being adapted, in the conveniences Of
life, to the left hand-as for example the direc-
tion of the worm screw, or Of the cutting end
of the auger-is not arbitrary, but is related 10
a natural endowment Of the body. He who is
left-handsd is most sensible to the advantages
OF this adaptation, from the opening of parior
door to the opening of pen-knife On the
whole, the preferences of the right hand is not
the effect of habit, but is natural provision,
and is bestowed for very obvious purpose,
and the property does not depend on the
peculiar distribution of the arteries of the
arm, but the preference is given to the right
foot as well as to the right hand.-iSir ChSs.
Belts BrtageWatsr Treatise