Dactylography; Or, The Study of Finger-prints

"Dactylography; Or, The Study of Finger-prints" by Henry Faulds is a captivating exploration of fingerprints as a method of identification, written during a time when forensic science was just beginning to take shape. This book examines the detailed patterns found on human fingers, presenting their biological importance and highlighting their special qualities for use in solving crimes. It reflects on how different people throughout time have used fingerprints, showing that the idea of using them is both ancient and still very important today. The work starts with the early uses of finger and toe marks, starting from ancient hunting groups to more recent crime-solving, setting the stage for using fingerprinting to identify people.