Page 110 - VERITAS Vol.2 Issue 2

The Vucetich classification
system consisted of a basic

classification (called the pri-

mary) and a more descrip-

tive secondary classification

using extensions. The pri-

mary classification was di-

vided into two groups: the
numerator and the denom-

inator. The numerator was

termed the series and rep-

resented the right hand. The

denominator was termed the

section and represented the

left hand. The right thumb
(called the fundamental) and

the remaining right-hand

fingers (called the division)
Fig.2: Vucetich’s secondary classification
represented the series. The

left thumb (called the subclassification) and the remaining left-hand

fingers (called the subdivision) represented the section.

The secondary classification further subdivided the fingerprints into
five subtypes: 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Each number represented a further

description of the pattern, applied to either hand, and was placed as a

superscript in parentheses. When the pattern type was a normal loop

variety, the superscript defaulted to ridge count values.

The first case in the world in which fingerprints were used to identify a

murderer occurred in the coastal town of Necochea in Argentina on 29

June 1892. It was actually a double murder, of the two young children
of Francisca Rojas who had been found killed in their beds. Unfortu-

nately, when you research this case online, there are numerous versions

of the story with often conflicting details and very little primary

101 Veritas Volume: 2, Issue: 2