186 



DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



to Mexico, tendered his resignation as Recording Secretary, and 

 Mr. J. G. Haupt was chosen to fill the vacancy. 



Mr. Pratt called attention to the frequent and permanent in- 

 jury of the eye-sight, by faulty light and lack of caro of the 

 eyes, and presented the following resolution, which was adopted : 



Besolved, That in view of the importance of the subject of the influ- 

 ence of study, and of the lighting and seating arrangements in the 

 schools, as affecting the eyes of the pupils. Dr. E. H. Hazen be requested 

 to make such an investigation of the condition of the eyes of the pupils 

 in our city schools as he may be able to do, as extensive as practicable, 

 and report the results in a paper to the Academy. 



The following papers were read : 



On the Prevalence of Left-Handedness in the City Schools. 



BY W. 11. PRATT. 



I have recently taken the opportunity afforded by my connection with 

 the city schools to make some investigations regarding the amount of 

 left-handedness existing among the portion of the community there 

 assembled, and some of the circumstances connected therewith. 



The whole number attending the public schools during the month of 

 November (including 93 teachers), was 3,971, a sufhcieut number to fur- 

 nish a pretty fair index to the whole community. Among these I found 

 126 who were naturally, or primarily, left-handed, a trifle over 3 1-6 per 

 cent — 3.17. • It was in no case, so far as 1 could learn, occasioned by any 

 injury or disability of the right hand, and seems to have been just as 

 natural to those persons as was right-handedness to the rest. Of these, 

 75 are males and 51 females. Of the males 34 and of the females 29, 

 (just one half), report some of their relatives left-handed. It is probable 

 that there may be more than are reported, as the small cliildrejn, espe- 

 cially, would doubtless be unable to report soiiie cases of left-handedness 

 among relatives beyond the immediate range of their personal acquaint- 

 ance. The left-handed relatives reported are, males 53, females 39, as 

 follows : 



Fathers 13 



Grandfathers 6 



Uncles 14 



Brothers 16 



Cousins 4 



53 



Mothers 11 



Grandmothers 5 



Aunts 4 



Sisters 14 



Cousins 4 



Great-aunt 1 



Of the whole attendance we have, males 1,905, females 2,066—3,971. 

 Per cent, of males left-handed, a little over 31—3.88 ; percent, of females 

 left-handed, not quite 21-2.40, which does not accoi'd with Mr. Buchan- 



