, 1885-12-23
PEOPLE WHO Aag a.gsr.nANpgp.


spne Of The Advantages and D.tadva
ts@-s Uadse whlsh IN " Labor.
phiiAialphIa ssrx.l
The majority Of people are right.
handed because they are trained to be
so.
This was the reply OF a doctor to a
reporter who Intercepted him on the
subject. sfI4tl
. everal theories have been advanced
why people are generally right-handed,
continued the physician, but with
what reason scientists have neye taken
the trouble to demonstrate. Perhaps
that which would come nearest the
truth, il any law Of nature were found
TO govern dexterity, would DO that the
heart, being placed on the left side.
the right side should be used
with greater freedom. Another theory
is that the brain is weightier on the
right side than on the left. What
G er the cause may be, | find that those
in youth who have trained themselves
TO using the left hand experience no
dill Guilty or inconvenience. When a
child is 'sinistrously' inclined and takes
to using the left hand by such natural
inclination, 1t is not because of any NAL
formation or displacement of the heart
or brain. Consequently | am led to
the belief that it is all a matter of train
ing"
Several other physicians who were
spoken to on the subject gave the same
opinion. Inquiry Of a number of left
handed people confirmed the statement
that no inconvenience resulted from the
use of the left hand, but that on the
contrary they find it a positive advan-
tage, inasmuch as that in numerous in
stances they become smbidexterous.
Persons who have much writing to do
are liable to pen paralysis" or
writer's cramp," lasting sometimes
for weeks. Ordinarily, after several
hours constant writing, the arm is very
much fatigued. Where a person can
write with both hands he can rest one,
and if by any accident he should be
deprived Of temporary OF permanent
use of the hand he is accustomed to use
he will be able to fall back on the
other. In ~telegraphy likewise, where
an operator has to transmit or receive
long messages, he is subject to ''telegra-
piers cramp. The work is laborious
and fatiguing, but when the operator
can use both hands he can not only
save himself much fatigue, but facilitate
the work.
Some tradesmen who are left-ianded
can command better wages than right
handed men of equal ability. This is
shown in the case of a boiler-riyeter
who, if left handed, can work inside n
boiler without the awkwardness of a
right handed man, and do superior
work. An engraver who uses both
hands can always command opposition.
Smiths, carpenters, and other artisans
also derive much advantage from the
use of both hands, and none who hap
pen TO be l~eft-handed experience any
inconvenience. A person who operates
a typewriter finds it necessary to use
both hands, and has to train himself TO
it when learning the instrument.
Many tools are made which are in
tended to be used with the right hand
only, and can only be operated with
great awkwardness with the left hand.
This is said to also contribute toward
making a majority of people right
handed. Notwithstanding all that can
be said in favor of the education of the
left hand, there is a powerful prejudice
against it, and left handed people are
spoken of conte m%ptuously.
In the western states a left-handed
man is usually said to be south
paved In England the nickname is
kit" and in Ireland it is used as a dis
tinctive appellation for the identified
ton of particular persons, as shawn
ma Observation-Disclosures john