THE MODE OF SITTING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1765, 19 August 1884, Page 2

THE MODE OF SITTING.

M. Delaunay, of Paris, has made an extended and carefnl investigation to ascertain if, in the majority of cases, the right upper and lower extremity be crossed over the left, or the left over the right, and which side most persons incline to when in the sitting posture. According to M. Delaunay, certain breeds of dogs, such as terriers, Newfoundlands, and poodles 'cross the right paw over the left, The Chinese and Japanese cross the left arm over the right, In the creches and salles d'asiles infants under three years of age cross the left arm over the right; the idiotic, including those who are incapable of working, cross the left over the right. The Kalmucks and Arabs cross the right over the left, like the Europeans. A great many women cross the left leg over the right. Among the .opera dancers some always cross the right leg over the left, but not one the left over the right habitually ; the majority cross the left over the right or the right over the left indifferently. Robust children cross the right leg over the left earlier than their weaker playmates, Persons who cross the right leg over ! the left lean towards the left when sitting; those who place the left uppermost lean to the right. Until six years of age children lean towards the risjht, ; and afterwards towards the left, French schoolmasters, it would appear, try to prevent their' pupils from assuming this position, believing that ' injury results; hence they encourage ' or enforce the law ot elbow rests 1 (accoudoiis) which oblige the children | to sit straight, a useless measure, as the position they choose is in confer- ' mity with the process of Evolution, ! Tailo.is affirm that the back of a paii of trousers is always worn more on the ' left side than the right. Left-handed ! people always sit towards the right, 1 M. Delauny concludes from these 1 observations that the left brain deve'iopes pteviously to the ri»ht, and finally the right predominates.— British " Medical Journal."