Why We Are Right-Handed.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue IV, 25 January 1902, Page 171

Why We Are Right-Handed.

Why are men. as a riue, righthanded ? Many theories art* •fArn in answer. Some suppost* that rig...-hand* <ln«*ss has become hereditary that in course of long years of only partial employment the left hand has lost its tunning. Against • his theory, however, it is pointed out that almost all infants are at first lenhanded, and for a very simple reason. In the ordinary way a mother or a nurse, unless left-handed, carries a baby with its head against her left side and with its right arm next her. The baby consequently puts its left hand out to grasp objects, and grows up left-handed until disabused 01 the habit by subsequent education. How often does one hear a fond mother say ing. “Right hand. dear, to a child who puts out. a left in greeting or who prefers to use its left hand for holding a spoon or a knife? Many wise doctors now advise mothers to allow their children to use either hand without any preference. Sir .James .sawyer. M.D.. has probably hit upon the most plausible reason for the right-ha nded ncss of the human race. In those early days. he says, when those might take who had the power, and those might keep who could, we were a fighting people, and a jwople who fought hand to hand. Naturally in this kind of fighting it is most convenient to wield a weapon which can ue used by one hand only, leaving the otner hanu and arm free for preserving balance*, for defensive covering, and for offensive seizing. Now the right hand would naturally be used in preTerence to tin* loft for wielding a weapon, in order that the heart might be kept as far away as possible from the assault of an adversary. Hence, right-handedness arose and was pass* I on from fatner to son. Moreover, when men first fought together in companies they must soon have found mat it was m st con venient to handle their weapons in a uniform way. If some in a fighting company were right-handed and others were leit-hamled. their weapons would be continually Clashing. Whether drilling or fighting, tin* men would need more space for wielding their weapons. If. on tin other hand, each man used his sword or his staff with the same hand as his neighbour employed, confusion would be minimised and a symmetrical appearance would be given to tin* martial body. Sn it may be inferred that from the earliest times cusi t in and convenience have had most to do with the preferential use of the right hand. It is unfair to the left .mud to argue that it suffers from any physical disability because man usually gives most o' his fine work to i nt* right hand. T. s is shown by the fact that any man may train his left hand to be as clever as his rigm. In fact, in some matters the left hand is habitually given equal rights with the right, and occasionally < is given the preference oy naturally right-handed people. In knitting a woman gives both hands an equal share of work, and is eqmioy skilled with each. When riding or driving a man gives his left hand the preference in tin* matter of holding the reins.