TRANSACTIONS OF SEGTION H. 717 
5. Facial Expression. By F. G. Parsons. 
The author pointed out the unreliability of a superficial judgment of the physio- 
gnomy, and illustrated the point by reference to portraits of Judge Jeffreys and 
General Wolfe respectively. He then proceeded to consider the relation of the 
chief lines of expression to the subcutaneous muscles of expression, pointing out 
that expression may be determined not only by the muscle that acts, but also by 
the degree to which it is put in action: also that the complication induced by the 
concomitant action of several muscles in the production of expressions necessi- 
tates a careful analysis in each instance. With the aid of an anatomical diagram 
the several muscles involved were enumerated and their action described. I]lus- 
trations were drawn irom a series of portraits in the National Gallery, and the 
author concluded by expressing his belief that, in spite of the abuse of physiogno- 
mical studies in the past, there was still hope that systematic research would be 
productive of sound and even brilliant results, 
6. Anthropometric Identification : a New System of Classifying the Records.' 
By J. Gray, BSc. 
The weak point of the Bertillon system of anthropometric identification is the 
method of classifying the records. As is well known, the records. are subdivided 
four times into three groups, each group lying between fixed limits of four 
different dimensions. The cards on which the records are written are stored in a 
cabinet containing eighty-one drawers, each one of which contains all cards 
between specified limits. The process of identification consists in finding the 
drawer between whose limits the person to be identified lies). There may be 
considerable difficulty in finding the required drawer if the dimensions of the 
person to be identified lies near the margin of limits in one or more dimensions. 
It will be necessary, then, to make more than one search. Dr. Garson, in working 
the Bertillon system at Scotland Yard, found that only 61 per cent. of the identifi- 
cations were made by one search. To get over this difficulty it is proposed to 
abolish fixed subdivisions. If the complete dimensions of each individual were 
written on a single card these cards would be arranged according to the first 
dimension as in a card catalogue. When we wish to ascertain whether a person 
who has just been measured has already a record card in the register we form two 
limits by adding on and subtracting an amount equal to the extreme variation 
likely to occur in measurement. For example, in case of a head-length or breadth, 
add on and subtract 4mm. ‘Take out all the cards between the limits thus found. 
The required card, if present, must be in this packet of cards. Now rearrange 
the cards in this packet according to head-breadths. Find the limits of variation 
for the measured breadth in the same way as described above for the length. Take 
out all the cards from the packet between the limits of breadth, and so on with 
the other dimensions. If a sufficient number of dimensions are taken, only one 
card will be left after the final separation, if the record of the person to be 
identified is present. By this system the effects of considerable inaccuracy in 
measurement can be neutralised by measuring a large number of dimensions. In 
no case is more than one search necessary to determine whether the record of the 
person measured is present in the register or not. The process of searching may 
be very much simplified by the use of charts on which the numbers of the record 
cards are stamped at the points indicated by 1wo dimension co-ordinates. This 
system of classification would probably remove the chief objection to the Bertillon 
system, which is otherwise much superior to the finger-print system, in which the 
uncertainty at the margins of groups is very great. 
! To be publivhed in full in Man. 
