William Cannon Cahall

“ Apropos of speaking of the preponderance of the right over the left hemisphere, it might not be amiss to mention here that recent investigations have shown this condition of the brain to be characteristic of certain forms of insanity. This does not prove, however, that because a person is left-handed he is necessarily in any degree insane, as some dexterous reader may superciliously infer. ”

“ Thus, predisposition primarily, and use afterward, influencing and strengthening each other, fix upon us a habit almost unchangeable—how firmly, let those who ever attempted to break the habit in a left-handed boy testify. ”

“ It can not be simply imitation or heredity, for in those children who are disposed to use the left hand these influences will not avail in changing the inclination, even, in many instances, when supplemented by persuasion or force. ”

“ Undertaken later, the result is often to spoil the skill of the left hand, without training the right to do its work as well. In conclusion, from what we have seen above, in answer to the question, Why are we right-handed? ”