Finger Prints The Classic 1892 Treatise

by Galton, Francis

• ISBN13: 9780486439303
• ISBN10: 0486439305
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-14
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

Landmark discusses the evidence validating fingerprints as a means of personal identification, permanence of the fingerprint characteristics, uniqueness of an assemblage of ridge details, and the variability and classifiable nature of finger patterns along with such fundamental investigations as biological and racial variations and the inheritance of fingerprint traits. 34 tables. 15 plates.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION	1	(21)
Distinction between creases and ridges	1	(1)
Origin of the inquiry	2	(1)
Summaries of the subsequent chapters	3	(19)
Viz. of ii.,	3	(1)
iii.,	4	(1)
iv.,	5	(1)
v.,	5	(3)
vi.,	8	(2)
vii.,	10	(2)
viii.,	12	(1)
ix.,	13	(1)
x.,	14	(2)
xi.,	16	(1)
xii.,	17	(2)
xiii.,	19	(3)
CHAPTER II PREVIOUS USE OF FINGER PRINTS	22	(8)
Superstition of personal contact	22	(1)
Rude hand-prints	23	(1)
Seals to documents	23	(1)
Chinese finger marks	24	(1)
The tipsahi of Bengal	24	(1)
Nail-marks on Assyrian bricks	25	(1)
Nail-mark on Chinese coins	25	(1)
Ridges and cheiromancy-China, Japan, and by negroes	26	(1)
Modern usage-Bewick, Fauld, Tabor, and G. Thompson	26	(1)
Their official use by Sir W.J. Herschel	27	(3)
CHAPTER III METHODS OF PRINTING	30	(24)
Impression on polished glass or razor	30	(1)
The two contrasted methods of printing	31	(1)
General remarks on printing from reliefs-ink; low relief of ridges; layer of ink; drying due to oxidisation	32	(3)
Apparatus at my own laboratory-slab; roller; benzole (or equivalent); funnel; ink; cards	35	(3)
Method of its manipulation	38	(2)
Pocket apparatus	40	(1)
Rollers and their manufacture	40	(1)
Other parts of the apparatus	41	(1)
Folders-long serviceable if air be excluded	42	(1)
Lithography	43	(1)
Water colours and dyes	44	(1)
Sir W. Herschel's official instructions	45	(1)
Printing as from engraved plates-Prof. Ray Lankester; Dr. L. Robinson	45	(1)
Methods of Dr. Forgeot	46	(1)
Smoke prints-mica; adhesive paper, by licking with tongue	47	(2)
Plumbago ; whitening	49	(1)
Casts-sealing-wax; dentist's wax; gutta-percha; undried varnish; collodion	49	(2)
Photographs	51	(1)
Prints on glass and mica for lantern	51	(1)
Enlargements-photographic, by camera lucida, pantagraph	52	(2)
CHAPTER IV THE RIDGES AND THEIR USES	54	(10)
General character of the ridges	54
Systems on the palm-principal ones; small interpolated systems	45	(11)
Cheiromantic creases-their directions; do not strictly correspond with those of ridges	56	(1)
Ridges on the soles of the feet	57	(1)
Pores	57	(1)
Development:-embryology; subsequent growth; disintegration by age, by injuries	58	(2)
Evolution	60	(1)
Apparent use as regards pressure-theoretic; experiment with compass points	60	(2)
Apparent use as regards rubbing thrill thereby occasioned	62	(2)
CHAPTER V PATTERNS: THEIR OUTLINES AND CORES	64	(25)
My earlier failures in classifying prints; their causes	64	(3)
The triangular plots	67	(2)
Outlines of patterns-eight sets of ten digits given as examples	69	(2)
Supplies of ridges to pattern	71	(1)
Letters that read alike when reversed	71	(1)
Magnifying glasses, spectacles, etc.	72	(1)
Rolled impressions, their importance	73	(1)
Standard patterns, cores, and their nomenclature	74	(4)
Direction of twist, nomenclature	78	(1)
Arches, loops, whorls	78	(1)
Transitional cases	79	(1)
The nine genera	80	(2)
Measurements-by ridge-intervals; by aid of bearings like compass	82	(2)
Purkenje-his Commentatio and a translation of it in part	84	(5)
CHAPTER VI PERSISTENCE	89	(11)
Evidence available	89	(1)
About thirty-five points of reference in each print	90	(1)
Photo-enlargement; orientation; tracing axes of ridges	90	(1)
Ambiguities in minutia?	91	(1)
V.H. Hd. as child and boy, a solitary change in one of the minutia	92	(1)
Eight couplets from other persons	93	(2)
One from Sir W.G.	95	(1)
Summary of 389 comparisons	96	(1)
Ball of a thumb	96	(1)
Results as to persistence	97	(3)
CHAPTER VII EVIDENTIAL VALUE	100	(14)
Method of rough comparison	100	(1)
Chance against guessing a pattern	101	(1)
Number of independent elements in a print-squares respectively of one, six, and five ridge-intervals in side	101	(2)
Interpolation, three methods of	103	(4)
Local accidents inside square	107	(2)
Uncertainties outside it	109	(1)
Compound results	110	(1)
Effect of failure in one, two, or more prints	111	(1)
Final conclusions-Jezebel	112	(2)
CHAPTER VIII PECULIARITIES OF THE DIGITS	114	(17)
Frequency per cent of arches, loops, and whorls generally, and on the several digits	114	(2)
Characteristic groups of digits	116	(3)
Relationships between the digits	119	(5)
Centesimal scale of relationship	124	(6)
Digits of same and of different names	130	(1)
CHAPTER IX METHODS OF INDEXING	131	(16)
Use of an index	131	(1)
Method of few conspicuous differences in many fingers	131	(2)
Specimen index	133	(1)
Order in which the digits are noted	134	(1)
Examples of indexing	135	(1)
Effect of regarding slopes	135	(1)
Number of index-heads required for 100 sets in each of twelve different methods	136	(2)
i and o in forefingers only	138	(2)
List of commonest index-headings	140	(2)
Number of headings to 100 sets, according to the digits that are noted	142	(1)
Transitional cases; sub-classifications	143	(1)
Symbols for patterns	144	(1)
Storing cards	145	(1)
Number of entries under each head when only the first three fingers are noted	146	(1)
CHAPTER X PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION	147	(23)
Printers and photographers	147	(1)
Use of means of identification to honest persons; in regard to criminals	148	(1)
Major Ferris, Mr. Tabor, N. Borneo	149	(4)
Best digits for registration purposes	153	(1)
Registration of criminals-NI. Bertillon	154	(1)
Details of Bertillonage ; success attributed to it; a theoretic error	155	(3)
Verification on a small scale	158	(5)
Experiences in the United States	163	(2)
Body marks; teeth	165	(1)
Value of finger prints for search in a register	166	(1)
Identification by comparison	167	(1)
Remarks by M. Herbette	168	(2)
CHAPTER XI HEREDITY	170	(22)
Different opinions	170	(1)
Larger meaning of heredity	170	(1)
Connection between filial and fraternal relationships	171	(1)
Fraternity, a faulty word but the best available	171	(1)
A and B brothers	172	(1)
Test case of calculated randoms	173	(2)
Fraternities by double A.L.W. events	175	(2)
The C. standard patterns	177	(1)
Limitation of couplets in large fraternities	178	(1)
Test of accurate classification	179	(2)
Fraternities by double C. events	181	(3)
Centesimal scale applied	184	(1)
Twins	185	(2)
Children of like-patterned parents	187	(3)
Simple filial relationship	190	(1)
Influences of father and mother	190	(2)
CHAPTER XII RACES AND CLASSES	192	(6)
Data for races	192	(1)
Racial differences are statistical only	193	(1)
Calculations by Mr. F.H. Collins	193	(1)
Hebrew peculiarities	194	(2)
Negro peculiarities, questionable	196	(1)
Data for different classes in temperament, faculty, etc., and results	197	(1)
M. Féré	197	(1)
CHAPTER XIII GENERA	198
Type, meaning of	198	(1)
Law of frequency of error	198	(2)
Discussion of three elements in the loops on either thumb	200	(9)
Proportions of typical loops	209	(1)
The patterns are transmitted under conditions of panmixia, yet do not blend	209	(1)
Their genera are not due to selection; inference	210	(1)
Sports; variations	211