Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

handed man, is associated with paralysis OF
the right side of the brain. The same Is
true of agraphia, the loss of Writing. A
sufferer from aphasia or agraphia may grad
ually recover the lost power through the de-
yelopment of a new speech or writing CEN
ter in the unused or undeyeloped area
adapted to such work in the opposite halt
of the brain. The conditions are reversed
In the case of a left-handed man, except
when he is trained to use the right hand
in penmanship. In that case, while ms
speech center has been developed on the right
side of his brain, his writing center is de-
veloped on the left.
USE OF BOTH HANDS.
Teachers are confronted by the question
as to whether children should be taught to
use both hands equally well in writing,
drawing and other skilled employments.
Because idiots use both hands equally well
they are called ambidextrous; but 1t is really
because they use both their hands equally
i'll, equally feebly and badly. below the level
OF skill or specialization. 1t is better to DO
one-handed than two-handed. One-handed-
ness is a condition of the most highly Or
ganized mechanical effort, which is medic
ere unless specialized. Higher organiza-
tion, division of labor, differentiation OF
function emphasize the preferential use OF
one hand in more difficult activity. Am
bideXterity would lower the skill OF the pre-
ferred hand and eXalt the subordinate; but
the average of efficiency of the two hands
would never rise to the skill of the dex-
ferrous member. If in the grasping, picking,
etc, there Is a choice as to which hand to
bring into use, the movement will be slower
than when one hand is instinctiyely and In
variably preferred. One-handeiness by max
ing action reader in adjustment has a bene-
fetal effect on the rapldity OF thought and
on the whole development of mental
life. Still, 1t would be desirable to improve
the efficiency of the subordinate hand. In
many Of the arts a high e~iIlciency Is re-
CURED of both hands; but this is a long re-
move from absolute ambideXterity.
Should left-handers be taught right-hand-
edness? Against the practice rises the ar
gument that the left-hander when taught
= right-hand penmanship develops a writing
center remotely separated from the speech
= center in the opposite half of the brain.
\ If so serious an affection as word blindness
can be caused by tumOr or other growth OBJ
a structing the path of communication between
g two centers located In the brain cortex OF
= the same hemisphere. the danger OF OBJ
r struction Is much increased when the path
( to be traversed connecting the two centers
I for speech and writing runs from the ex-
g ternal surface of one hemisphere down
( through the commissursl tracts and out
S ward to the corteX Of the other side.
T This is not final, for 1t may be said that
e learning to be right-handed gives an I'M
+ mense practical advantage In better adapta'
i ton TO the customs and conyeniences oil
y our civilization. which are adapted to the
I usa of the rlght-handed. Buttons, tools
g scissors, doorkrobs, even corkscrews, VIII
be found to be constructed for the right
handed. A left-hander meets with incon'
e venience and difficulty unless he adapts him
self TO the use OF his right hand in writing
n and in many e~mployments In the arts.
Another consideration which may appeal
trivial, but is, nevertheless, or great I'm
II portance, is that the left-hander finds him
self out OF harmony with his social environ
~ ment. The natural repulsion inspired b!
" the sight OF what Is strange and apparently
~ awkward and uncouth has handed dow
from darker ages a superstltlous pre1udic
u against the left-handed. amounting TO al
unjustifable, though widespread. BELIEF Il
"a his mental and moral crookedness. Tn
moot serious effect is q subjective one. IN
IN Ieft-hander himself gets the feeling that b
re Is odd and abnormal In an untavoraol
az sense and IL reacts badly upon him, less
20 enlng his confidence, concelt and ambition
L. -