The Dewey Decimal Classification and the International Catalogue of Science / by William E. Hoyle.

  • Hoyle, William Evans, 1855-1926.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Dewey Decimal Classification and the International Catalogue of Science / by William E. Hoyle. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    numbers for the first time, and who lack the patience or leisure to acquire a grasp of the system on which they are based, are very apt to be prejudiced against it, condemning it unheard as an artificial and cumbrous device. The system consists in dividing the subjects on which books have been written into classes and fixing a number to each. There are ten main divisions ; each of these is subdivided into ten, and each of these once more into ten, so that 1,000 so-called “sections are formed. The “ Natural Sciences ” (in the wide sense of the term) occupy the sections, 500-599, whilst “ Zoology” extends from 590 to 599, the several class-numbers being allocated thus :—- 590- General Zoology. 591- Anatomy and Physiology. 592. Invertebrata. 593- Protozoa, Porifera, Coelenterata. 594- Mollusca, Brachiopoda, Bryozoa, Tunicata. 595- Articulata. 596. Vertebrata. 597- Pisces, Amphibia (Ichthyopsida). 598. Reptilia, Aves (Sauropsida). 599- Mammalia. By the use of decimals, these sections are further divided into sub-sections to any degree of minuteness which may be desired ; for instance, 595.3 is “ Crustacea,” subdivided thus :— 595.31 Entomostraca. .32 Phyllopoda. .33 Ostracoda. .34 Copepoda. .35 Cirripedia. .36 Malacostraca. .37 Arthrostraca. .38 Thoracostraca. •39 Gigantostraca. By the mere addition of decimal places, any one of these may be divided and subdivided again, if at any time that be deemed desirable. The insertion of the decimal point makes the proper order of the divisions clear, and also makes it more easy for the eye to catch the main class-number. There is no profound mystery in this use of the decimal ; it is nothing more than a practical convenience. In order to indicate Geographical distribution, a series of numbers has been allotted to the different divisions of the earth’s surface : .4 Europe. .41 Scotland, Ireland. .42 England. .43 Germany. &c. &c. .5 Asia. .6 Africa. .7 North America. .8 South America. .y Oceania.
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