Dermatoglyphics History

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Ancient China

Thumb prints were found on clay seals

1684

Dr. Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712) presented Finger Prints, Palms and Soles An Introduction To Dermatoglyphic to the Royal Society

1685

Dr.Bidloo published an anatomical atlas, Anatomia Humani Corporis, with illustrations showing the human figure both in living attitudes and as dissected cadavers

1686

Dr. Marcello Malphigi (1628-1694) noted in his treatise; ridges, spirals and loops in fingerprints

1788

J.C.Mayer was the first to write out basic tenets of fingerprint analysis and theorized that fingerprints were unique

1823

Dr. Jan Purkinje classified the papillary lines on the fingertips into nine types: arch, tented arch, ulna loop, radial loop, peacock’s eye/compound, spiral whorl, elliptical whorl, circular whorl, and double loop/composite.

1823

Joannes Evangelista Purkinji found that the patterns on one’s finger tips and the ridges and lines on one’s prints begin to form at around the thirteenth week in the womb.

1832

Dr. Charles Bell (1774-1842) was one of the first physicians to combine the scientific study of neuro-anatomy with clinical practice. He published The Hand: Its Mechanism and Vital Endowments as Evincing Design.

1893

Dr. Francis Galton published his book, “Fingerprints”, establishing the individuality and permanence of fingerprints. The book included the first classification system for fingerprints: Arch, Loop and Whorl.

1897

Harris Hawthorne Wilder was the first American to study Dermatoglyphics. He invented the Main Line Index, studied thenar hypothenar eminencies, zones II, III, IV.

1926

Dr. Harold Cummins & Dr. Charles Midlo coined the term “Dermatoglyphics”. They showed that the hand contained significant Dermatoglyphics configurations that would assist the identification of mongolism in the new-born child.

1936

Dr. Harold Cummins & Dr. Charles Midlo also researched the embryo-genesis of skin ridge patterns and established that the fingerprint patterns actually develop in the womb and are fully formed by the fourth foetal month.

1944

Dr Julius Spier Psycho-Analytic Chirologist published “The Hands of Children” he made several significant discoveries especially in the area of psycho-sexual development and the diagnosis of imbalances and problems in this area from the patterns of the hands.

1957

Dr.Walker used the dermal configurations in the diagnosis of mongolism.

1968

Sarah Holt, whose own work ‘The Genetics of Dermal Ridges’ published in 1968, summarizes her research in of dermatoglyphics patterns of both the fingers and the palm in various peoples, both normal and congenitally afflicted.

1969

John J. Mulvihill, MD and David W. Smith, MD published The Genesis of Dermatoglyphics that provides the most up to date version of how fingerprints form.

1970

USSR,Former Soviet Union. Using Dermatoglyphics in selecting the contestant for Olympics.

1976

Schaumann and Alter’s ‘Dermatoglyphics in Medical Disorders’ published. Significant investigations have also been carried out into the dermatoglyphics indicators of congenital heart disease, leukaemia, cancer, rubella embryopathy, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia etc. Dermatoglyphics research being directed into genetic research and the diagnosis of chromosomal defects.

1980

China carry out researching work of human potential, intelligence and talents in dermatoglyphics and human genome perspective.

1985

Dr. Chen Yi Mou Phd. of Havard University research Dermatoglyphics based on Multiple Intelligence theory of Dr. Howard Gardner. First apply dermatoglyphics to educational fields and brain physiology.

2000

Dr Stowens, Chief of Pathology at St Luke’s hospital in New York, claims to be able to diagnose schizophrenia and leukaemia with up to a 90% accuracy. In Germany, Dr Alexander Rodewald reports he can pinpoint many congenital abnormalities with a 90% accuracy.

2004

IBMBS- International Behavioral & Medical Biometrics Society. Over 7000 report and thesis published. Nowadays the U.S., Japan or China, Taiwan apply dermatoglyphics to educational fields, expecting to improve teaching qualities and raising learning efficiency by knowing various learning styles.