Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-25

ne would stand, tim.dly, uncertain In
stepping, but when told to do SO would
step off freely. When slight impulses
we're given with the hands to the upper
part Of the patients spine, he could move
briskly about the house, guided like a
aorse. Acts to which he was long ac-
sustomed. such as eating and smoking,
We're performed without suggestion, and
very Well. In the postmortem, the doc
tor found that all of the nerve fibres
which remained well and sound led to
the left half Of the PATIENTS BRAIN This
case proved TO the doctor, as did the
other, that an ordinary right handed
man can think and act with the left
half of his brain alone.
DIR. kellogg's study of several cases of
aphasia has led him to the same conclu-
sion. Aphasia Is a mental disorder from
which the patient loses the power of
speaking and writing language, although
he can understand words addressed to
him. Many other cases reported by ply
sicians show that this arrangement at
tacks the left side of the brain The
right brain. although healthy. Is usually
unable to carry on the power of speech
when the left brain is diseased. The doe
tor, however, has record of the case of a
boy who became speeches. as a result of
this disease in the left side of his brain,
but who afterward cultivated the func-
ton of speech in his right brain He
formerly could speak both Welsh and
English from his left brain, but was able
to speak English only from ms right
brain. After time he became speech
less again and dissection proved that he
had contracted the disease in his right
brain after he had contracted it in the
left.
Persons injured over the third left
frontal area of the brain, the probable
speech centre, have frequently become
mutes, but have been trained later to use
language by education of the right brain
The doctor has record of many cases of
persons who, though deprived of the use
of their right brains, have been able to
speak and act. He says that injuries to
the right brain are recovered from far
more promptly than the same injuries to
the more important and more delicate
left brain.
In the doctors opinion the habit of
using one side of the body more than the
other probably originated in early days
when primitive warfare demanded the
wearing of the shield on one arm and the
welding of the weapon in the other for
uniformity in action and formation. The
fact that we frequently see left-handed
individuals contradicts the idea that
Observation-Disclosures is natural According
TO the Bible. soldiers of the tribe of Ben
jamin were left-handed, and thereby be-
came the most expert singers and
Scotland are also said to have been uni
formly left-handed.
In DR.. Kellogg's opinion We all may de-
velop our right brains to the equality of
our left brains by becoming ambidex-
trous. if we start early enough in life.
Infants under my observation" said he.
show little or no preference for either
hand. When young child is laid upon
his back his legs and arms are always
thrown out in every way, one side as |
much as the other. | have often seen
mothers slap the baby's left hand or tie
it up to the back to discourage its use |
The result is then sure to be that the |
right hand is put forward in all move |
ments. also in judgments of matters of |
sensation. of weight and pressure, of the |
roughness and smoothness of bodies. of |
The degrees of heat and cold. The right |
hand only is trained to strike with ham, |
mer or club. 1t only is praetised in |
throwing ball or stone. 1t is indispen- |
sable that all these practices should be |
shared Ny the two hands through in |
fancy and childhood in order to effect the |
desired result. In early childhood all |
these primitive sensations and move |
ments leave their impression on record in |
the left cerebrum with right-side train |
ing; this being continuous must surely |
produce a permanent effect. Physlolog- |
lists are agreed that the systematic use |
Of the voluntary muscles must have Il |
great influence in the development of the
brain.
Ata1t taNha
IN the aoctoi opinion tne on ,,
slcsu way 70 ms ,D ~ ~, 80 ~
peslh III lhiaiey anu heep ~ ~, ~ ,. eito.
through youci, whie tiie oous i'''ot.s a..
oeing estaohsneo throush liie nei -. ~ "a,
system. ~ Is haruis hecess.aly ~
continued 10 esuniale tile aus ~
which would ensue py securing 10 ,nt
raee the equal use % tie ~ IN ~. s,i,a
lahds. AN increase III ,,ie itnot e"n.' go,
especially IN inc shiileu 80 - ~ 80" ~.
loubtiess equal lhilu' no. oliiS In "a NJ L,
'olhcideht use OF tMo s'ioiis n@i,,s' 80
the respite ahofueu 70 , itI 't i ~, -
muscular energy Oh either il'iiiu III uSS
I would obviate Writer cldinl' aiin ~
II latlgues eoiitiiisent uPoil az. - ~,
Use ana reNeVe the Si ie1t ,'9' 80 -, -
ng from injury OF uisease % ' a''s ;. ~ az
Used hand. nave seen many eaSes y.
partial ambidexterfty AMONG hi 0.iI7
ma the ACCOMPLISHMENTS was t Lpe"
~ them as OF mucn liupor tahce', 4 nav nav
seen but one case or periect amplaeS ,J
ity. The late )r. Alex. Mott u NV, NV
York could use equaIly wei eIu,eI Iia,,,'
n writing or IN tne most oiii,ui oles -
ions ana IN nice ulssectihs; ~ We 80 ~
years one OF the moss shihlui o, t ~
N New YORK. Wheh ne was 10y, ~
father, the celebrated Naiei i ~,
said: MY BOY must succeeu me ia ~, ny
business. | shali see 10 IL tiat ne No. ~.
Two good hahus listeau u,' o,ie' ar,nlnto