The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-04
70 1pENrrFr cRrM1xALs
ny Measuring the Head, the Foot, the Mld
die Finger, and the Forearm 70 the Elbow.

ny Measuring the Head, the Foot, the NEId.
die FinEer, and the Forearm TO the Elbow.
from the Lonson TVmeG
Last evening NJ. jacques Bertlllon (head
Of the Municipal Bureau OF Statistics In Paris
! delivered lecture before tho Archaeological
Institute OF Great Britain and Ireland on the
method now practlsed in France Of identifying
criminals by comparing their measures with
those OF convicted persons In the prison regis
tiers. Mr., Francis Cation, +. II. s.. presided.
M. Bertillon snid that the System which he
had come there to explain was an essentially
practical one. II had for its object the recog-
milton OF n person ten, fiteon, twenty, or even
| one hundred years after he had been meas
ured, for by that method It was possible to
recognize person after death, II access could
be had to his skeleton. In Paris when 100000
photographs had been collected by tho police
| II was impossible TO turn them TO pro- able ac-
count. Photography was now. therefore, relic
gated to secondary position, and only used
means. The ba9is OF tho Rnthtopometiic sys-
tom was to obtain meAsui ements OF those bony
parts Of tho body which underwent little or no
with extreme accuracy TO within so smal! u
figure as to DO practically exact Those parts
feS IoG sboW nROr ana
TO clearly illustrate the system let them sup
pose 20 200 photographs OF hen to have been
groups Of 10000. accordin to the height OF the
men. There would he short men, men OF mo
classes might DO approximately equal. 1t was
evident that the limits OF men OF medium
the other two classes. Encn Of these primary
divisions should again be divided on lie same
principle. without taking any further notice "f
tho height. into thIeo classes, NJ cordinx to tho
length OF the head OF each individual. Tho
three classes Of short, medium. and long heads
cordinR to tho width Of tho heads and would
contain narrow, medium, and wide heads; EX-
breadth OF the head varied Independently OF
the length-that was, that given that an indi-
yidual had certain tain ie e Of head; y oy no
The lsnsS 81 tho ~ middle finger gave fourth
divide again each one OF tho packets Of photo
graphs; and these might be divided again nc:
body and also according to the color of the
eyes Thus by these an,hr"pometrlcal CO
collection OF $4,000 photographs into very
small groups Of about fifteen each which they
could easily and rapidly examine.
=, NJ; Bertlon then proceeded TO give, q prac-
teal demonstrat alton Of the WAY IN which the
6g %cFe simple hut aSc
rate In their construction. and the measure
ments were taken with great eXactltude. The
measuring the head was 50 accurate that the
measurement could be taken to within one
that the length Of the heads OF diner
emit individuals differed more than three
centimetres tsay. go milimetresi II was ad-
heads. and 1t was well known that tho skulls
developed very little after ,, an Individual had
not the same, for us years passed by we became
bent and onr height became less besides, 1t
centimetres without its being discovered by
the operator. As an instance OF the exacitude
Sa Ts ren
men had visited his brother In France and re- |
9uested him to measure them in order 10 test
60. and 1t was found that the measurements
corresponded to the most minnie detail. The
indications. for it could 10 measured 10
q millimetre, provided that care was
Ing with this. and Il underwent :. no al
sionally happened that the person to be meas
ured was refractory, and declined to allow the
these cases. by means Of his shoes, hat. gloves
&c. asufflciently near measurement could DO
arrived at; The l; experience IN Paris: however
Sometimes because be regarded it
as mere Formally. and sometimes perhaps
his part might make the authorities suspicious
Of his past history. and thus INDUCE them TO
above Measurements and Observations, pho
tograph OF the Grim nal was taken; This pro:
sSdE was as
Iurther test TO secure absolute accuracy. All
evidence OF scars, moles. or, character
sorded on tie backs Of The Tho,osraphs,
with anatomical precision as to, their
nature. dimens ions. situation. &C.. and much
importance had always been attached to some
of these. Considerable stress was laid 10y NJ.
Bertiilon on the importance OF the hand and
The ear as marks OF recognition. TIE hand.
because 1t was the organ in most constant use
n almost every calling md IN many trades and
became modified according to the
par ocular character OF tho work which it had
o do. The ear was the precise opposite to this.
laps In the case OF prize lighters. who devel-
oped peculiarly OF the ear which 1t was easy
q recognize. The ear therefore. wa, an i'm
Dortant organ 10 measure. inasmuch as tho re-
suits were not likely to he nullined By IA change
n Its conformation.
Tue exHminatiO OF criminals under this
ystem had been extending with Erca rhPidi'y
II France In 1882 there were 22j examined
md the numu er mad increased year b. year
Until In 1858 the number was "a. ~ OF this
asst total ~ persons were recognIed n hav-
Ig TelApsed into crime aDd gave false names.
The number 81 b49 Represented nearly lie
whole number 81 pei ons arrested during ltsS
or offences under the common law, and having
,Rssed through the depot A striking roof Ut
lie efficacy OF the system Of anthiOrometIy
vas furnished by the complete disappealHu .
y dissim uIAtion Of Identifies ~ tho urisons
be mum Der % recognitionr made IN the prison
teF conviction amounted 10 .ul or - u u year.
BIO number Of cases Of this class IN The whole
ear lhsb wag IL Of whom ~ we're individuals
Who. never haEinR b,sH measured before were
4 Decehblty not recognizable 10y the h"TNic":
his left four Omissions "a lie distributed
mohg b; 900 ekaHusd 10 The Jenr IL" Ice
uTeT 81 plRinsd that the hyri"n 81 measure
lent required no further luttru"tloD than wac
onihined In a small mADuHl. and tina q tie
ireetlOns we're followed a. would te eHsy,O Eet
} the hlRhTsi degree seTyiesnbs 10 he deirr-
ion ~ criminals, aud TOT O'bef uhciyl puT-