Dactylography
Group M-
Saurabh Tiwari (110)
Savi Verma (111)
Shaleen Bhardwaj (112)
Shefali (113)
Shefali Rawat (114)
Shikhar Singh (115)
Refers to the scientific study of fingerprints as
a method of identification.
Dermatoglyphics is the study of ridge pattern
in the skin.
First used in India in 1858 by Sir William
Herschel in 1858.
Fingerprint Bureau was 1st established in
Kolkata.
The fingerprints are capable of endless
variation so that it has been speculated
thatthere is 1 chance in 64 billions of two
persons having identical fingerprints.
Principle
Fingerprints are impressions or patterns formed
by the papillary or epidermal ridges of the
fingertips.
They appear between 12-16 weeks of intrauterine
life and formation is completed by 24 weeks.
At birth, a fine pattern of ridges is seen on the
skin of the bulbs of the fingers and thumbs, parts
of the palm and the soles of the feet.
Classification
1. Loops (about 60 to 70%)-
a) Radial
b) Ulnar
2. Whorls (about 25-35%)
a) concentric
b) spiral
c) double spiral
d) almond shaped
3. Arches (about 6 to 7%)
a) plain
b) tented
c) exceptional
4. Composite
a) central pocket loops
b) lateral pocket loops
c) twinned loops
d) accidentals
Identification
The final identification is made by comparison of
many details of characteristics which occur
throughout the ridge areas and by the sequence in
which they occur, but not by comparing the
patterns.
Inpractice 10-12 points of fine comparison are
accepted as proof of identity.
The patterns are not inherited and paternity
cannot be proved through fingerprint patterns.
Different even in identical twins.
Thefingerprint patterns are distinctive and
permanent in individuals.
Thefingerprint system is the only guide to
identity, which is unfailing in practice.
Poroscopy
The method of examining pores is called poroscopy
and is useful when only fragments of fingerprints are
available in which there is no specific pattern.
The ridges on fingers and hands are studded with
microscopic pores, formed by mouths of ducts of
subepidermal sweat glands.
These are permanent and unchanged during life and
vary in size, shape, width, starting and stopping on
occasion and branching at points, position, extent
and number, distribution and arrangement of the
pores over a given length of ridge in each individual.
RIDGEOLOGY – the study of friction ridges which
are composed of the edges of ridge units which
vary in shape, size and alignment.
EDGEOSCOPY- the study of edges of friction ridges
which normally show seven characteristic
features.
QUETLET’s RULE- it states that every nature made
object presents infinite variation in forms and no
patterns are alike.
Mode of Production
A constant stream of sweat covers the skin and
when the person is excited, the output of sweat
increases.
Ifany part of finger is applied to a smooth
surface, a greasy impression of its pattern is made
on it.
Techniques of Fingerprints
The hands are washed, cleaned and dried, as
otherwise the print will be blurred.
The fingerprints are recorded on unglazed white
paper using printer’s ink.
1. A plain print is taken by applying ink to the tips of
the fingers and placing the fingers directly on
paper.
2. The rolled fingerprint is taken by rolling the fingers
on paper from outward to inward in such a way as
to obtain an impression of the whole tip.
Ifrigor mortis is well developed, incision into the
palmar surface of the fingers at the proximal
interphalangeal joint will enable the fingers to be
straightened, and printing can bre carried out.
TYPES
(1) The latent print (chance print)
• invisible or barely visible impression left on a smooth
surface.
(2) Visible prints
• formed by fingers stained with blood or ink or other
medium.
(3) The plastic print
• impression made on a soft surface such as soap,
cheese, mud, pitch, candles, thick dried blood,
adhesives, etc
RIDGE IMPRESSIONS
• Burnt skin of the fingers on healing shows its
original pattern.
• In manual labourers working with lime, sand, and
cement the ridges become broken and
indistinct.
• Ridge impressions get malformed
if the quality of ink is poor like the ink is too liquid
and spreads into the depression
if the digit is rolled often or pulled
when the paper is placed upon an uneven or rough
surface.
DEVELOPMENT OF LATENT PRINTS
• Fingerprints may be taken from almost any surface with which
the fingers come in contact including certain fabrics and
human skin.
• A latent print may be developed by dusting the area with
coloured powders to provide a contrast. It's pattern is recorded
by photography or oblique lighting.
• The commonly used powder is 'grey' powder (chalk and
mercury.
• Fingerprints on paper, wood and fabrics are developed
by treating them with 5% silver nitrate solution and then
fixing them with Sodium thiosulphate.
• Fingerprints on paper can also be developed by exposing
it to the vapours of iodine or Osmium tetroxide.
• Electron autoradiography method uses X-rays to
irradiate the lead dust on fingermarks.
• Using a continuous wave argon ion laser and observing
through suitable filters, latent fingerprints show
luminescence.
LIFTING OF FINGERPRINTS
Fingerprints on a large immovable hard
surface is
• developed,
• photographed
• and then adhesive surface of cellophane
tape is pressed on the print,
taken out gently and pasted against a
cardboard sheet for permanent
preservation.
Assailant's fingerprints
• During pre-death struggle both the assailant and the victim will sweat
due to nervous tension, and one exudate will cancel out the other.
• After death, the victim will not sweat, due to which the assailant’s
fingerprints will be left on the body.
• Electronographic method is used to develop latent fingerprints on
skin of living persons
or dead bodies.
• Sweating from exertion is seen on the forehead, axilla, back etc.
• Nervous sweating is almost confined to the hands and feet.
Fingerprints in Decomposed Bodies
• In advanced putrefaction and in cases of
drowning, the skin becomes loose so removed and
preserved in formalin
• Prints can be obtained from both epidermis and
dermis.
• Histological sections up to depth of 0.6 mm. from
the surface of the skin give satisfactory
fingerprints.
• If the fingers are shrivelled, they should be immersed
in 20% acetic acid for 24 to 48 hours, or air, glycerin
or liquid paraffin is injected into the bulb, to obtain normal
size.
• If the skin is dehydrated, the finger is soaked in 3% solution of
potassium hydroxide in warm water to regain normal size.
• If the skin is fragile lead carbonate mixed with paraffin is
applied on the skin and X-rayed.
• If the fingers are sodden, wrinkled or mummified, their ouline
can be made level by injecting liquid paraffin, or even
formalin, within the tissues of the palmar aspects of the
terminal phalanx of each finger.
MUTILATION OF FINGERPRINTS:
• Criminals sometimes mutilate the pattern by self-inflicted wounds or burns,
application of corrosives or erosion against a hard surface but they are not
destroyed unless the true skin is completely destroyed.
• In coeliac disease, there is moderate epidermal ridge atrophy and even loss of
pattern.
• Incomplete atrophy of the ridges is usually seen in dermatitis.
• Ridge alteration occurs in eczema, acanthosis nigricans, scleroderma, and dry
or atrophic skin
• Permanent impairment of the fingerprint pattern occurs in leprosy. electric
injurv and after exposure to radiation.
• In infantile paralysis, rickets and acromegaly the distance between
PERSISTANCE OF FINGERPRINTS
Fingerprints are better protected than other parts of the
body, e.g. in case of burns they are bent inwards against the
palm of the hand.
• Impressions may persist for years, if undisturbed by
cleaning.
Computerisation: Fingerprint reader (FINDER)
• is a fingerprint reading system which can record each
fingerprint data in half second
• Prints of eight fingers are recorded excluding little fingers.
• Light reflected from fingerprint is measured and codified to
store in computer
MEDICAL IMPORTANCE
(1) The recognition of impressions left at a scene of crime to find out the
criminal.
(2) The identification of suicides, persons suffering from loss of
memory or those dead or unconscious after being
involved in an accident and of decomposing bodies.
(3) Identification in case of accidental exchange of
newborn infants.
( 4) The prevention of impersonation.
(5) To maintain identity records.
(6) Cheques, bank notes and other legal documents can bear a fingerprint.
In criminals, impressions of all the ten fingers are taken, but for civil
