Classification and uses of finger prints.

  • Henry, E. R. (Edward Richard), Sir, 1850-1931.
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Classification and uses of finger prints. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    all combinations of Loops and Whorls of the ten digits taken in pairs. The manner in which they would be arranged in pigeon-holes is shown in Plate 3. In practice it is found more con- venient to take impressions, not on cards, but on stout paper foolscap size, termed slips, and to keep them arranged in open files, each file or, when the accumulations are small, each sub- division of a file corresponding to a pigeon-hole. This enables the whole record to be more easily handled, as the slips can be turned over rapidly, and there is besides considerable saving of bulk, the slips being of less substance than cards. A record consisting of 20,000 sets of slips would pack away into half a dozen small trunks, and within the space of a few minutes could be un- packed and arranged for search. Plate 3 explains the theory of arrangement, and an illustration is given. The frontispiece shows the cabinet in actual use. Arithmetical rule for determining primary classification, etc.—Simple as is the method of de- termining the primary classification number with the aid of the key to the cabinet, it can be even more readily arrived at in the following way, which enables the searcher to dispense altogether with the Key. The digits, as before, are taken in pairs, the first of the pair being shown as numerator and the second as denominator, the formula thus obtained being of the following kind : L ^ w L w ^ L W ' L ^ L ' W ^ W •