458 GENERATION. 



that the arteries going to the left side are usually larger than 

 those on the right. There were no observations with regard 

 to the comparative size of the arteries upon the two sides in 

 left-handed persons. 



Reasoning from the facts just stated, Dr. Ogle conceives 

 that dextral preeminence depends upon a natural predomi- 

 nance of the left side of the brain, the reverse obtaining in 

 the left-handed. This view seems to afford the most rational 

 explanation of dextral preeminence. It is generally true that 

 the members on the right side are stronger than the left, par- 

 ticularly the arm j but this is not always the case, even in 

 the right-handed. A not inconsiderable practical experience 

 in athletic exercises has led us to observe that the right hand 

 is more conveniently and easily used than the left, from which 

 fact we derive the term dexterity ; but that the left arm is 

 often stronger than the right. In many feats of strength, 

 the left arm appears less powerful than the right, because we 

 have less command over the muscles. As a single illustration 

 of this, we may mention the feat of drawing the body up 

 with one arm, which requires unusual strength, but very lit- 

 tle dexterity. In a number of right-handed persons, we find 

 many who perform this feat more easily with the left arm, 

 and not a few who can accomplish it with the left arm and 

 not with the right. When we come to the , cause of the su- 

 perior development of the left side of the brain, we must 

 confess that the anatomical explanation is not entirely satis- 

 factory. "We can only say that the two sides of the brain 

 are generally not exactly equal in their development, the 

 left side being usually superior to the right, and that we or- 

 dinarily use the muscles of the right side of the body in pref- 

 erence to those on the left side. 



Development after Birth, Ages, and Death. 



When the child is born, the organs of special sense and the 

 intelligence are dull ; there is then very little muscular power ; 

 and the new being, for several weeks, does little more than 



