Classification and uses of finger prints / by Sir E.R. Henry.

  • Edward Henry
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Classification and uses of finger prints / by Sir E.R. Henry. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    125/168 (page 111)
    APPENDIX. REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE INTO THE SYSTEM OF IDENTIFICATION BY FINGER IM- PRESSIONS. Under instructions from the Government of India, the undei- signecl met in the office of Mr. Henry, Inspector-General of Police, Lower Provinces, on the 29th March 1897, to report on his system of identification by finger impressions. 2. Mr. Henry first explained the present, or anthropo- metrical, system of Identification by measurements and its classification, which has yielded excellent and progressively improving results each year. During 1896, four out of every possible ten cases were identified. But the system has weak points— (a) Skilled persons are required to take the measure- ments and they must have sufficient education to enable them to read the instruments and to use the decimal notation. This is more particularly a serious objection in India, where warders and policemen are frequently far from well-educated men. (.b) Carefully made and delicate instruments are neces- sary to take the measurements with sufficient accuracy. (c) The number of measurements to be taken is con- siderable, viz. : 3 for the length of head, 3 for the width of head, 3 for length of left forearm, 3 for length of left foot, 3 for length of left little finger, and 3 for height—or 18 in all ; the mean of each group of 3 is taken as the final measurement. In addition to these, marks and scars are searched for and so the actual anthropometric record of one person occupies the measurer between half an hour and one hour.