ABSTRACT
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 2 Evolution and the Elliptical Whorl (1976) ..................................................... 3 Neolithic Bricks (7000 B.C.) ............................................................................ 8 Prehistoric Carvings (3000 B.C.)..................................................................... 9 Mummies......................................................................................................... 11 Finger Imprints on Artifacts in Antiquity (circa 3000 B.C.)....................... 12 Grauballe Man (A.D. 400) ............................................................................. 14 Philosophical Transactions (1684) ................................................................ 14 De Externo Tactus Organo (1686) ................................................................ 16 William of Orange (1690).............................................................................. 16 Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) ........................................................................ 18 Concerning the External Physiological Examination of the Integumentary System (1823)........................................................................ 19 Fingerprint Classification ............................................................................... 21
Dr. Ivan Vucetich (1858-1925) ............................................................... 22 The Henry System.................................................................................... 23 Sir Edward Henry and Sir William Herschel ......................................... 25 Dr. Henry Faulds (1843-1930) ............................................................... 27 Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911) .............................................................. 31
Early Fingerprint Usage in Other Countries ................................................ 33 Germany ................................................................................................... 33 Cuba .......................................................................................................... 34 Canada ...................................................................................................... 35 Australia and New Zealand ..................................................................... 35 United States of America......................................................................... 36
Developments to Date .................................................................................... 38 Reference.......................................................................................................... 39 Addendum to the First Edition ..................................................................... 39 Update.............................................................................................................. 39
The fascinating story of the development and use of fingerprints in the last hundred years will only be properly appreciated if the reader is acquainted with some knowledge of dactyloscopy; therefore I will briefly outline the basic details of this science. The inside surfaces of the hands from fingertips to wrist and the bottom surfaces of the feet from the tip of the big toe to the rear of the heel contain minute ridges of skin, with furrows between each ridge. A cross section of a finger would look exactly like the cross section of a plowed field. Whereas on a plowed field the ridges and furrows run in straight parallel lines, on the hands and feet the ridges and furrows frequently curve and, especially on the fingertips and toe ends, the ridges and furrows form complicated patterns. The ridges have pores along their entire length that exude perspiration; hence, when an article is picked up, the perspiration runs along the ridges and leaves an exact impression of the ridges, just as an inked rubber stamp leaves its impression on a blank sheet of paper.
