File:Guide to finger-print identification (electronic resource) (1905) (14804418403).jpg

Identifier: b20443493 (find matches)
Title: Guide to finger-print identification (electronic resource)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors: Faulds, Henry, 1843-1930
Subjects: Dermatoglyphics
Publisher: Hanley : Wood, Mitchell
Contributing Library: Wellcome Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Wellcome Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
le ormotor car are sometimes moulded with a ribbed surface to grip theground. It is not surprising to find that some makers have designedthe ribbing so as to preserve their own names before the public. Itstruck me before knowing that fact that if the ribbing in a bicyclewheel were varied in direction, as in the human hand, the grippingunder varying conditions would be more effective. If Sir CharlesBell or Archdeacon Paley had dealt with this theme no scientist atthe present time has the basis of an effective answer ready. Mr. F.Galton seems to think that the ridges act as auxiliary organs of touchin a similar way to the whiskers of a dog or cat. (The NineteenthCentury, May, 1891.) But the rugae are neither so conspicuous norvariable in pattern at the very finger tips which we use chiefly fortouch, as in other parts of the hand. Again, they are particularlywell developed in many parts of the palm and feet where sensation isproportionately less acute and less discriminating. Mr. Galtons
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 4. Young Gorilla, Chloe, right hand (showing palmar creases). i7 explanation of the arrangement of special lineations, chiefly used foridentification, is not more fortunate. He attributes the apparentfreak in the direction of the lineations to the inset of the finger nail;but there are just such patterns, just such divergences of direction ofthe lineations in several other parts of the palm, besides the regionof the finger nails, which are in no possible way affected by them. Permanence of Patterns. It has already been stated that the patterns have the quality ofpermanence without which they would be no more helpful in identifi-cation than ordinary freckles, the pigmentary particles composingwhich migrate slowly under the influence of light and other causes.Those freckle spots wax or wane sometimes quite noticeably, as in thatharmless affection leucoderma (white-skin), which has often been con-founded with leprosy. This happens very noticeably in dark races,,and especially in cer

Note About Images