18 
diminish their prominence, as do also certain kinds of 
work, such as bricklaying. In children and women they 
are finer than in men, and they increase in size with 
the growth of the child. On the free terminal ends of 
the fingers they are well marked, and form certain 
definite patterns to which a good deal of attention has 
been given of late years, on account of the great 
facility they afford for establishing personal identity. 
Dr. Garson gave a demonstration of the method 
whereby impressions are taken with printers’ ink upon 
paper of the surface markings of the finger, a perma- 
nent print being so obtained. 
The four different types into which the patterns 
thus obtained may be divided were shown by lantern 
slides, the lecturer showing in much detail how these 
types may be further subdivided into more than a 
thousand varieties for classificatory purposes. 
Examples of prints taken at intervals of from nine 
to thirty-one years on different individuals, at different 
stages of life from childhood onwards, were shown on 
the screen indicating that the patterns retain their 
characteristics throughout life. 
Dr. Garson alluded to the use of finger impres- 
sions in identifying the perpetrators of crime and 
showed a photograph of a typical record, as kept by 
the Police authorities at Scotland Yard, of criminals 
that come under their charge. 
Other uses to which the principle might be applied 
were mentioned—the identification of pensioners, the 
prevention of fraudulent enlistment, the proving of 
title to property, and the establishment of identity for 
persons travelling abroad. 
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