New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-12-30
Eeft-Handed People.
the Philadelphia News.
81 4 le majority Of people are right
HANDED because they are trained to be

le majority Of people are right
HANDED because they are trained to be
so.''
This was the reply of a doctor to
reporter Of the Daily News who inter
rogated him on the subject.
+ Several theories have been advanced
Why people are generally right-hand-
ed" continued the physician, "but
with what reason scientists have never
taken the trouble to demonstrate.
Perhaps that which would come
nearest the truth, if any law Of ma
ture were found to govern dex-
terity, would be 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 the
left. Whatever the case may be, find
that thosein youth who have trained
themselves to using the left hand ex-
perience no difficulty or Inconvenience.
When a child.is ssinistrously' inclined
and takes to using the left hand by
such natural inclination, it is not be
cause ofany malformation or displace-
ment of the heart or brain. Conse-
quently I am led to believe that it is
all q matter of training"
Several other physicians who were
spoken to on the subjectgave the same
opinion. Inquiry OF number Of left.
handed people confirmed the state.
ment that no inconvenience resulted
from the use Of the left hand, but that
on the contrary they find it q posi-,
tive advantage, inasmuch that in nu.
merous instances they become ambi-
dexters.
Persons who have much writing to
do are liable to "pen paralysis" OF
writers 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 the temporary or per-
| manent use of the hand he is accus-
toned to use he will be able to s.fall
back" on the other. In telegraphy
likewise, where an operator has to
transmit or receive long messages, he
is subject to photographers cramp, /"
which is sometimes similar to writer's
| 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-hand-
ed can command better wages than
right handed men of equal ability.
This is shown in the case of boiler
| riveter who, if left-handed, can work
inside q boiler without the awkward
ness OF a right-handed man and do SUI
perior work. An engraver who uses
both hands can always command q
position. Smiths, carpenters and
/ other citizens also derive much ad
vantage from the use of both hands
and none who happen to be lefthand
ed experience any inconvenience. A
person who operates a typewriter
finds it necessary to use both hands
and has to train himself to it whel
learning the instrument.
/ Many tools are made which are in
tended to be used with the right hanc
only, and can only be operated Will
great awkwardness with the left hand
This is said to also contribute tow
ards making a majority of right-hand
ed people. notwithstanding all thai
can be said in favor of the education
of the left hand, there is powerful
prejudice against it; and left-handet
people are spoken Of contemptuously
In the western states left handed
man is usually said to be "south-paw
! ed In England the nickname il
exit" and in Ireland it is used as
distinctive appellationf for the identifi
cation OF particular persons, az
/ "Shawn ma Kithogue''-Left-h handed
John.