AMBIDEXTERITY

Evening Star, Issue 14515, 5 November 1910, Page 2

AMBIDEXTERITY

A movomont has been started in Germanv for the cultivation of ambidexterity Tho idea is that developing the power to use both hands equally well means developing tho intelligence in ..-oiirral, and the memory in particular. It is said to have been scientifically ascertained that while right-handed peop'o have tho organ of speech on the left sido of tho brain, and vice versa, people who aro ambidexterous have two kmruage centres, one in each lobe of thfTbraiu. The infant begins liio with two speech centres, but as the right hand is generally trained, and tho left nesrlected, the right speech centre gri'diially grows torpid and useless. The extraordinary claim is now made that by the cultivation of the left hand the capacity of the right si>ecch centre of the brain can be revived, and to that extent broaden the intelligence as ambidexterity increases the use of the human being's hand. Instances are quoted by supporters of tho movement in which practising the left hand has rescued a power of speech until then paralysed. One patient in question was stricken by paralysis of tho left organ of speech, and with it paralysis of the right hand. The doctors startod teaching the patient to write with the left hand, with the astonishing result that in a short time the power of speech was awakened in tho hitherto torpid organ of speech: An even more astonishing case was that of a boy who, at tho age of thirteen, lost fiis left band, but soon learned to do fairly well with an artificial member. At the age of thirty ho suffered a, stroke of paralysis, which robbed him of the power of speech, but by means ofa small ring with a pen attached to it, fixed to the artificial limb, he could practise writing, and thus not only recovered power over his original speech, but over French and Russian, which he had forgotten. As a matter of fact, ambidexterity is necessary in several professions and occupations, of which surgery and piano-playing may be given as examples. Berlin correspondent 'Evening Standard.'