Show WHY Y YOM Yo O WALK in a CIRCLE When LOST I ERE you ever lost in a heavy fog or a W WERE driving snowstorm or even in a tract of dense woods If so you probably experienced experienced the usual annoying result of finding yourself yourself your your- self sef walking in a circle in spite of all your efforts to follow a straight lire line Physiologists have studied this curious phenomenon and come to the conclusion that it is due to the fact of the difference difference difference dif dif- ference which always always' exists between the two lateral halves of the body and which causes one of them to show a constant though unconscious tendency to exert a pressure upon the other Some recent experiments in Vienna which are described in The Scientific American have thrown further light upon this difference between the two sides of the body and its effects It was found that in spite of all orders to the contrary persons walking on foot showed a constant tendency to turn to the right su so that a definite effort of the will was required in order to turn to the left I The famous German physiologist Prof Abderhalden Abderhalden Abderhalden Abder- Abder halden became interested in this question and investigated investigated investigated in in- it further in the Physiological Institute Institute Institute tute at Halle In this building there are two similar stairways one running to the left and the theother theother theother other to the right and both placed at right-angles right to a short flight of steps at the entrance Observations Observations Observations showed that by far the greater number of students in the building regularly took the th right-hand right staircase when they come to choose Inquiry proved however that left-handed left students students stu stu- dents with few exceptions made use of the left staircase The same re results were observed in the case of the general public as well as in that of the stu stu- dents lents When the stairs were descended however there was practically an equal use of the two sets of steps This is doubtless due to the fact that much more effort is required to ascend a stairway than to descend it 11 x a Fatra 9 |