Evening star., 1895-05-28
THE WRITER'S CRAMP.
The Various Methods Adopted to Re-
lievc This AfnictfOn.


lievc This Addiction.
From the Writer.
The best way to prevent writer's cramp
is suggested by the small boys composition
on pins: pins have saved great many
lives-by not swallowing them Taking as
a starting point the idea that writer's
cramp is usually caused by over-exertion Of
one set OF muscles, 1t is obvious that II is
necessary to employ as many muscles of
the hand as possible in writing. Therefore
the positions of holding the penholder must
be varied. Disabuse your mind of the pre-
cepts of the school room. Write for awhile
grasping the penholder between the thumb
and first finger; then put it between the
first and middle finger, remembering to
keep the thumb from resting too tightly
against 1t. This is important, for. in the
absorption in his work. the writer is apt
to impair the circulation in the thumb
by too much pressure. Penholders are usu-
ally grasped too tightly, anyway. This pre-
vents that free, easy style of writing which
is SO essential. The next position is to put
the penholder between the middle and
fourth fingers. This of course. alters the
character of the writing somewhat; but.
more rest to tired muscles has been found
in holding the pen in this way than In al
most any other. Still more relief is ex-
perienced by grasping the penhoder with
the whole hand. AS the person writes en-
tirely with the arm movement, it is obvious
that the small muscles of the hand are rot
overtaxed. 1t is the same principle as that
of putting a short pencil in an apple the
apple grasped in the hand half closed
Many writer's who are troubled with cramp
from writing in the conventional way make
use of this convenience These varied po-
sitions do not alter the handwriting as
much as one would imagine.
Steel pens, from their lack Of elasticity
are to be avoided by one who writes a
great deal. Gold pens. with broad soft
nibs. are much preferable and they can be
moved with much less effort. Pencils-if not
too hard-and stylographic pens are still
better. because no particular angle has to
be maintained between the Soint and the
paper. and the position of holding them can
he quickly varied.
Now. word as to the holders They
should never be smooth, but should have a
slightly roughened surface. Small steel
penholders by taking away the heat of
the hand. should be discarded It is not
an exaGgeration TO say that many writers
have all the symptoms of cramp before they
really awake to the fact that cork hold
ers are in existence! 1t Is well to try pen
holders of various sizes. as even cork hold
ers used exclusively will overtax the same
muscles. II you have long piece of work
while with an ordinary roughened wooden
holder grasping 1t, as I have suggested,
between the different fingers. In about
twenty minutes put your pen in a cork
dlteT d time hasten to this cork
holder stray pencil by means of rubber
bands. The size of the holder can be in
creased by fastening two cork holders to-
gether. But, as a rule, the one with a
pencil Is large enough unless the work
should be quite prolonged. l have found
the most comfort in strapping cork
holder and fountain pen together cover
ing them with piece of chamois leather
This arrangement causes more elasticity
than If a holder Of the same size were
used. This is very useful litth device
and a great comfort to weary muscles.