Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-25

graph, however, is taken and placed on the
card with his description, to meet any occa-
sion where it might be an advantage.
How System Works
I'm a collection of 1000 criminal photo
graphs how would it be possible to find an
individuals former record without his
measurements? His name he gives differ
emily each time arrested, so that an index
is of little or no value; his face or photo
graph might lead to his former card of
record, but the work of looking over 10000
faces precludes any attempt to find him in
this way.
THE BertIlon measurements. however,
enable the dividing and classifying of n col
lection of descriptions so that the work OF
looking for an individual in a collection OF
10000 descriptions occupies only few mo-
ments. For example, 5000 descriptions by
the Bertillon method are classified as fol-
lows: About 1900 of such a number VIII
have small-sized heads and about 1900
have large-sized heads; the balance of the
10000 will have medium-siZed heads. Thus,
by securing the measurement of indi-
viduals head, the figures at once tell
whether he will be found in the division Of
1900 small heads in the division of 13oOD
large heads or in the division of 1900 me
dunn sized heads
In other words, by having the size of
his head we are saved the work of looking
over % 600 cards, for if know by the
size or measurement that he is in the
small heads we need not look through
the medium and large divisions. Upon
this principle each other measurement
taken enables a still further division or
classification. The small heads On length)
are subdivided or classified into three div
isions of the head width, or about 1000
small head widths, 1900 large head widths
and 5000 medium head widths; the large
and medium heads Din length being sub
divided in the same manner; thus it will
be seen that with two measurements Che
head length and head width), we are saved
the trouble of looking through $50 cards
Each head-width division is subdvided by
three divisions of the finger, each finger
division by three divisions of the foot;
each foot division by three divisions OF the
forearm, etc.
without any measurements ii would be
necessary to look over 10000 faces; with one
measurement 1t is necessary to look over
only 1900: with two measurements only
about 1000; with three measurements only
ABOUT l5O0; with four measurements only
ABOUT 800; with five measurements only
ABOUT 100; With six measurements only
ABOUT nifty; with seven measurements only
about fifteen cards.
the principle of this subdividing of meas
urementS might be more clearly under
stood by taking an individuals height as
the basis for the first division; In 40 600 de-
scrlptlons, for example, say, the small div
is1on would include all subjects I'D to 3 feet
inches in height, the medium division
having subjects from 8 feet inches to 8
feet inches, and the large division hay-
ing those above feet inches; in looking
Tor subject measuring feet 10 inches
IN a collection of 10000 the search would
De confined to the large division of 1900
OF SUBJECTS from feet inches up, thus
saving search through a collection of
lo'ooo small men and 14.O0O medium men,"