CRIMINAL ANTHROPOLOGY. 675 



different lengths for other parts of the body, and the necessary stands, 

 stools, etc. These will all be understood as the operation proceeds. 



The batch of "arrests" have been brought in for measurement and 

 ideutitication ; under the necessary guard they are conducted to a room 

 divided around its walls into open lockers after the fashion of public 

 bath houses. The individual is stripped to his shirt and pantaloons 

 and these lockers are provided with hooks on which to hang the cloth- 

 ing, and a bench with a drawer. Thence he is marched into the meas- 

 uring room. The services of two men are required; one to take the 

 measurements, the other to write them on the' appropriate card. The 

 subject may have already been examined, or he may be examined here 

 as to his name, residence, place of birth, and former convictions, if any. 

 If he be a hardened criminal, an incorrigible, called in French, a recidi- 

 vist, he will probably give a false name and declare this is his first arrest. 



The report of the bureau at Paris shows the following list of persons 

 who did this and were recognized by this system and their descriptive 

 cards found in the boxes as hereafter explained : 



Persons. 



1883 49 



1884 241 



1885 450 



188G 352 



1888 615 



The report for 1886 in full was as follows: 



All measures of anthropometry should be taken by the metric system 

 and reported in millimetres. By common consent among the princii)al 

 nations the metric system has been adopted for anthropometryo Com- 

 parisons are made much easier and more correctly from a single and 

 universal standard, and therefore it becomes the duty of the United 

 States to fall into line with her sister nations. 



To meaaure the height of the individual. — By a simple mechanical con- 

 trivance the operation can be done rapidly, accurately, and without risk 

 of deception. The subject is barefoot and placed with his back against 

 the wall ; a strip of woo<l has been fastened upon the wall so as to fur- 

 nish a perpendicular edge ; a door or window jamb may serve the pur- 

 pose equally well. The wooden right angle spoken of can be placed 

 against this edge and moved up and down, the broad bottom of which 

 can rest lightly upon the head of the individual. Linos painted upon 

 the wall, or stripes with the necessary measures of iieight marked uj)ou 

 them, will show with accuracy the height of the individual, 



