Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-01-04
NO. g..
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
lUSES OF LEFT-HANDEDNESs.


The question has been much discussed
among anatomsts. whether the properties
Of the right band in comparison with those
Of the LETT, depend on the course ot the ar.
teries 10 il. Il is affirmed that the trunk 81
the artery going to the right arm, passes of
from the heart, so rs to admit the blood di-
rectly and more forcibly into the small yes
sells Of the arm This is assigning cause
which i unequal to the effect, and present
ing altogether too confined view of the
subject; il is participation in the common
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 10 be no hesitation which
hand is to be used or which foot is 70
be put forward; nor is there in fact any such
indecsi0n Is this taught or have we this
readiness given to us by nature? Ii
must be observed, al the same time, that
there is distinction in the whole right
side Of the body, and that the left side -
not only the weaker in regard to mus
cular strength, but also in its vital or cOnsti-
tuJional properties. The development Of tho
organs Of action and motion is greatest upon
the right side, as may at any time be ascer.
tanned by measurement. Or the testimony Of
the tailor or shoemaker; certainly, this supe-
riority NAV be said to result from the moro
frequent exertion Of the right hand but the
peculiarly extends to the constitution also.
and diseases attack the left extromities
more frequently than the right.
In opera-danccrs, we may see that tho
most difficult leats are performed by the right
foot But their preparatory exercises better
eyincr the natural weakness Of the left limb,
in order to avoid awkwarduess in the public
exhibition; for If these exercises be noglec-
ted an ungracetul performance will he given
to the right side In walking behind per
son, IL il very seldom that we see an equali-
zed motion Of the body; and, il We look -
the left foot, we shall find that the tread is
not 80 firm upon ii, that the too IS not 81
much turned out as in the right, and that
greater push Is made with il. From tho
peculiar form Of woman and the elias
ticity OF her step, resulting more from
tie motion Of the ankle than Of the haun-
chcs, the defect Ut the left foot when is
exists, Is more apparent IN her gait No boy
hops upon his LETT foot unless he lie cleft hand
ed The hOrseman puts his left foot in the
>t!Efup, anu springs from tAc FigHt,
We think we may conclude that every
thing being adapted, in the couyeniences II
life, to the left hand-as for example tho
direction Of the worm screw, or ot the cutting
end Of the auger-is not arbitrary, but 10
related to 4 natural endowment of the body.
He who il Ieft-hauded, is most sensible to the
advantages ot this adaptation, from the open
ing ~ Narlor door to the opening Of PEN
knife On the whole, the preferences of the
right hand j. not tAe effect Of habit, but i .
natural provision, and il bestowed for very
obvious purpose, and the property does not
depend ~ tie peculiar distribution n the
arteries Ct the arm, but the preference il
given u the rightlCot a. well a. t. the right
haud.-.Sr Cn0riss Bells Bridge0atec IrsQ-
Use.