But memory of prior experiences, habit confirmed by persistent usage, and the influence of example and education, all come into play at an early stage, and lend confirmation to the natural bias. The potency of such combined influences must largely affect the results in many cases where the difference in force between the two cerebral hemispheres is slight; and the stimulus to preferential action is consequently weak, as in many cases it undoubtedly is, and therefore not calculated to present any insurmountable resistance to counteracting or opposing influences. Under the term education, as a factor developing or counteracting the weak tendency towards either bias, must be included many habits superinduced not only by the example of the majority, but by their constructive appliances. So soon as the child is old enough to be affected by such influences, the fastening of its clothes, the handling of knife and spoon, and of other objects in daily use, help to confirm the habit, until the art of penmanship is mastered, and with this crowning accomplishment--except in cases of strongly marked bias in an opposite direction,--the left hand is relegated to its subordinate place as a supplementary organ, to be called into use when the privileged member finds occasion for its aid. But on the other hand, an exaggerated estimate is formed of the difficulties experienced by a left-handed person in many of the ordinary actions of life. It is noted by Mr. James Shaw that the buttons of our dress, and the hooks and eyes of all female attire, are expressly adapted to the right hand. Again, Sir Charles Bell remarks: “We think we may conclude that, everything being adapted, in the conveniences of life, to the right hand, as, for example, the direction of the worm of the screw, or of the cutting end of the auger, is not arbitrary, but is related to a natural endowment of the body. He who is left-handed is most sensible to the advantages of this adaptation, from the opening of the parlour door, to the opening of a penknife.” This idea, though widely entertained, is to a large extent founded on misapprehension. It is undoubtedly true that the habitual use of the right hand has controlled the form of many implements, and influenced the arrangements of dress, as well as the social customs of society. The musket is fitted for an habitually right-handed people. So, in like manner, the adze, the plane, the gimlet, the screw, and other mechanical tools, must be adapted to one or the other hand. Scissors, snuffers, shears, and other implements specially requiring the action of the thumb and fingers, are all made for the right hand. So also is it with the scythe of the reaper. Not only the lock of the gun or rifle, but the bayonet and the cartridge-pouch, are made or fitted on the assumption of the right hand being used; and even many arrangements of the fastenings of the dress are adapted to this habitual preference