The sun., 1916-09-27

As a suggestion In hiarOscurO Oh
the value of arts and crafts this war
is rich In fine examples taken from
the tragic experiences OF the actors.
Surgeons who have seen h battle
fields and hospitals OF Europe dwell
upon the stupendous problems OF car
ing for the men disabled and mutilated
by modern shot and explosives. How
are these men to be trained and fitted
for work? Can a man who has lost
his right hand be taught to use the
left? Should he learn q new trade or
cultivate the old one with his left
hand? Can men blinded by explosives
be taught to use their fingers In draw
ing or in such unions OF brain n
fingers as music and typewriting?
These problems were discussed at a
recent meeting Of the French Acad-
envy Of Sciences. Obviously both TECH
meal and social issues are here in
question. In the first place the nor
ma and working life of artisans and
professional men has, of necessity.
given way to military duty. Though
we assume hat most Of them will be
taken back into the industrial life OF
the nation. others will be permanently
VI pal hht bhNuRo'ikotNu w. WV
cause or another. In addition to the
drainage Of huge bodies Of men from
civil employments. which cannot fail
to produce its effect In the future.
there will be a shortage Of sound men
caused by the war. The loss OF mill
ions in a war which II not merely de-
structive OF limb but OF life must ac-
centuate the poverty and the number
OF unemployed which are always with
us. Thus the main problem is the
shortage OF ablebodied men plus the
unnatural increase OF cripples.
Fortunately throughout America and
Europe the %esource OF science are
being assembled TO find a remedy. The
war Is a practical lesson In the value
OF manual training. training Of the
hand In a large sweep OF uses. The
manual arts are the earliest and the
most productive. and. IL is now as
serted. the most intellectual. in the
sense that they teach the most perfect
union of the mind Of the worker with
the product OF his work. According
to experts this training OF the hands.
of both hands IL should be noted. en-
riches the mind by adapting from the
impressions OF the external world
whatever produces symmetry in the
development of the intellect. II this
notion DO obscure examples may clear
away the difficulty. For instance,
painters like Leonardo da Ninci were
at once painters, mathematician and
mechanics. and. on the other hand,
Watts. who perfected the steam en-
CINE. was supremacy at home in the
processes OF the arts.
The present method OF training dis
abled soldiers is chiefly a continuation
of the study OF symmetry OF mind and
body, II Is n study OF the utmost i'm
portancc at any time. for every year
dangerous trades take annually a
heavy toll Of manned and muti.ated
men. Three special works on the sub.
iect from three totally different points
of view lave recently appeared. One
by an American. Taylor. is devoted &c
rho stgdy 81 economy in muscular
movements. or. In other words. the
study Of how to perform a given task
with the least expenditure OF motion
and physical force. or the other two
one describes the use Of artificial
limbs. hands, fingers. while the othel
is an outline OF 2 new system. which
will he published shortly in detail. o,
training the left hand.
The observations, which were made
ut first hand by a Polish surgeon
Kiosk, on the eastern battle front
arc recorded and extended by III,
Belgian physician Joteyko and hi,
pupil. k!piani, whose book on ambidex,
;erity is standard. These studies are
Of the most practical and useful kind
Az the outset the interesting Questio,
, arises: Why are the majority of th'
human race right handed? Wi,hou
entering into the countless theories o
the cause, 1t is probable that owing 4
the position OF the heart and grea
: arteries, which are placed for the mos
part on the left, the need to protec
this side of the body has been a guild