Makch 1, 1901.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



(!9 



up into such a numlvr of uiiuov groups that there will lie 

 little ditKoultv in assignir.ir to its proper serial position 

 each new record that is added, or in idciitifviug duplicate 

 impressions of the same individual. Wlicu the classifica- 

 tion numbers of nuy two or uiore sheets agree, even as 

 regarding the letters denoting the secondary characteristics, 

 they may be differentiated by comparing together (with 

 the aid of a lens) the prints of each individual tinger, 

 where a number of minute but characteristic peculiarities ! 

 will be sure to be detected, which will serve to distinguish 

 the two records. 



The method of the ideutitication of individuals by means 

 of this ingenious system is, of course, jierfectly simple. 

 Where it is in use, as in India,, the finger-prints of every 

 individual who is convicted in the law-courts are taken 

 and duly pigeon-holed or filed, according to the classifica- 

 tion descrilied above. When any indiviclual, previously 

 unknown to the police ot" the district, is charged with an 

 offence, his finger-prints are immediately taken and duly 

 classified. Reference is then made to the corresponding 

 group of classification-numbers in the cabinet or file, and 

 if an absolutely identical impression is found, the whole 

 history of the individual is at once made known. If the 

 duplicate of his impression is not in the series, it is 

 evident that the accused is " unknown to the police," and 

 he is therefore entitled to the benefit of the " First 

 Offenders' Act," or its Indian equivalent. 



But this is not all. Occasionally a burglar, ])y 

 cutting his hand, or by smearing it with ink or some other 

 substance, may leave the impression of one or more of his 

 fingers on some article in the house. And Mr. Henry, in 

 a paper read before the British Association at Dover in 

 1900 (to which we are indebted for the information 

 embodied in this article), gives an instance of this nature 

 which led to the identification and conviction of the 

 criminal. Briefly stated, the case was as follows: — The 

 manager of a tea estate in the Julparguri district was 

 found foully murdered, his despatch box, in a rifled con- 

 dition, lying near the body. In this box was an almanack 

 marked with two faint brown smudges. By chemical 

 examination these were proved to be made by human 

 blood, while, by the aid of a magnifying glass, one of them 

 was discovered to be the print of a human thumb, which 

 was subsequently identified as that of a certain individual 

 whose finger-record had been filed by the Bengal i)olice. 

 The evidence was considered by a native jury sufficient 

 to convict the accused of theft, although (somewhat 

 inconsequentially) not of ratirder, and he was accordingly 

 sentenced to a term of imprisonment. 



Other systems of classification of finger-prints have been 

 prepared, but, in our opinion, none are equal iii simplicity 

 and convenience to that invented by Mr. Henry. As 

 already said, it has been adopted in India, and it might, 

 we think, be advantageously used in this country. 



In addition to their value as a means whereby suspected 

 persons may be readily and undisputably identified, finger- 

 prints have, however, as already indicated, a vei-y con- 

 siderable degree of interest to the naturalist. They serve 

 to show that even in such minute details as the arrange- 

 ment of the ridges on the skin of his finger-ti[is man has 

 attained a higher degree of si>ecialisation than the lower 

 monkeys, and that certain of the man-like apes alone 

 approximate to him in this re.speet. The subject is, 

 however, still in its infancy, and further interesting results 

 will doubtless accrue from a more extended investigation 

 line of the points to determine being, as already indicated, 

 whether " whorls " are more predominant on the finger- 

 tips of the higher as compared with the lower races of 

 mankind. 



Conducted by M. I Crpss 



biUTir^ii \ KK.sL-s CoNTiNKNT.vi, IMiruoscopi;?. — For accurate 

 original research, where the worker has some understandiug of 

 the mechanical and optical means at his disposal, there is no 

 microscope in the world to be compared with the best of those 

 produced by tlic leading Rritisli houses. Iti them are to be 

 found rofincnionts of michaiiical skill wliicb, suitably employed, 

 call forth a response from objectives and condensers which 

 causes them to yield their very best cllects. ICveii in the 

 British models of medium size and at modest cost there arc to 

 be found several that are but slightly less ofl'octive than the 

 largest, and with which no Continental stand can vie. 



Yet the British microscope plays but an insignificant jiart, 

 numerically, in the world's supply. In laboratories and lu 

 places where microscopes are largely used, the Continental 

 instrument holds sway and seems likely to maintain it, at any 

 rate for the present. The question of price is not the factor in 

 the existing state of things, for even in student's stands the 

 Kritish manufacturer keeps his rates at the com|)etitive mark. 

 Why then is it that he docs not receive a larger share of 

 appreciation and supports 



The reasons usually given appear to be two in number, and 

 are — 



1. The British microscope exceeds the needs of the laboratory 

 worker and student ; 



2. The casing and general " fit up " is inferior. 



The first is distinctly a laboratory cry, and may be regarded as 

 due to want of appreciation and education in matters micro- 

 scoiiical. The second is more general in its ajiplication and in a 

 lesser degree influential. 



To do the largest amount of work in the least possible time 

 with the most cut and dried materials is a spirit which pervades 

 the present day, and it applies to microscopical as much as to 

 other spheres of activity. 



The laboratory worker wants as much done for him as jiossible. 

 so that it may only be necessary for him to place his object on 

 the stage and " spot '' the structure. To get the best from lenses 

 and condenser is not in his province. "Numerical aperture," 

 " aplanatic cone," and "critical image'' are, as a rule, vague 

 terms to him. Hence it comes that an instrument that always 

 has its auVjstage condenser approximately focussed and centred, 

 and the mirror fixed in the line of the optical axis, eaves him 

 time and bother and suits his methods of working. 



Xo one can defend the use of what are in reality but rough 

 and ready means of examination of structure, and no reliance 

 can be placed on deductions made from such methods. We are 

 among these who are sanguine enough to hope that in the 

 no very distant future, the advantage of perfect control in 

 mariipulation, and a rigid tripod foot, as provided in the majority 

 of British microscopes, will supersede the Continental model. 



This can only be brought about by a demand for more thorough 

 teaching of microscopical principles and manipulation, and if 

 good work is to be done in English laboratories it should be seen 

 to that those who use the instruments shall get the best possible 

 out of them. If this necessity were recognised and taken up 

 vigorously by the scientific world — and many know full well 

 how much it is needed — a different state of things would in 

 time prevail. We would not advocate the pandering to a low 

 degree of appreciation by reducing either the calibre or working 

 accuracies of the instrument. Let us all do our best to raise 

 the users to a higher level. 



Meanwhile, the British manufacturer has opportunities of 

 making his instruments more acceptable in several ways, and 

 especially in the casing and general " fit up." 



A great improvement has taken place in recent yeai-s, but 

 there is yet room for further effort. (Jenerally speaking, 

 I'ritish houses are inferior to their Continental rivoN in this 



