- #36
LowlyPion
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rewebster said:if I remember reading 'right', its because in Europe (roman times/latin) most were right handed and the better you manuevered your hands the more dextrous (dexter 'latin'-right) you were; and, if you were left handed, you were odd (sinister 'latin'-left). --latin for hand is manus --and has many romantic language derivatives -manufacture, manicure, etc.
Being a particular handedness can of course be an advantage in Roman times if for no other reason than maintaining the fighting integrity of the cohorts thrusting their gladii from behind the gaps in their shields. And that alone might have even served to ensure an evolutionary bias in handedness.
But as to the subject of toilet paper, it's my understanding that one means of Roman army hygiene was the use of a sponge on a stick that may have been carried on a soldier's belt. Actually a pretty effective and eco-efficient solution I would think if running water was about. Less useful in the desert. I suspect adopting such a style today might not be quite so acceptable. (Mercy look at how slide rules hanging from the belt used to be selected against.)