Science. Characteristics of Criminals.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1976, 7 March 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

Science. Characteristics of Criminals.

Recently, in France, considerable attention has beon paid to an examination of the criminal class with reference to its pbysipal and associated characteristics. M. Lacassague has drawn attention to the frequency of tattooing among criminals, and tho violent nature of the scenes depicted by them in thia voluntary mutilation. The same writer has also pointed out that criminals, as a class, are tall ; thus in 800 subjects examined by him, 623 were taller by C centimeters than the average, and some exceeded the normal height by 10 and 20 centimeters. These observations were corroborated by M. Ferri, in Italy. In 1882, Dr. Manouvrier has remarked that among criminals, notoriously with murderers, the jaw is more developed than in usual ; and that while the cranio-mandibular index noimally varies between 12 8 and 13, among the convicts it attains the remarkable number of 117. MM. Heger and Dallemagne, in a comparative study of the skulls of assassins and ordinary persona, have confirmed the statement that the forward projection of the skull is greater among the former. They have also shown that criminals have a larger facial index and smaller vertical index than the peaceable citizens, but no difference is observed in the cephalio index. M. Heger has affirmed the larger capacity of the criminal skull over that of the usual type, tho relative proportions being as 1,588 is to 1,400. But this has been contradicted by a number of observers who claim the reverse, hut it is suggested that this may be explained by supposing that the former Hxamined the crania of murderers only, while in the later studies those of all classes wero included, among which the incendiarieß are are said to have small heads. M. Flesch has said that affections of the heart exist among criminals to the extent of 20 per cent. ; persistance of Votal'a orifice, 10 per cent ; contraotion of the vascular system, 5*5 per cent, iiut his researches upon cerebral lesions are much more important. He has demonstrated a certain avatiara in the cerebral convolutions, already indicated by Benedikt, as, for instance, tho medium lobe of the brain being shaped as among the mammals, the separation of the eulcanan figure from the occipital, the opening of the liMsuro of Sylvius, and the formation of an operculum of the occipital lobe. Histology has also detected certain anomalies in the brains of those criminals whose autopsy has been made. Thus Spika has found the pigmentation of the nuoleum of the t^nth, seventh, and fifth pairs in a murderer's brain ; ateo Golgi and Marchi have detected pigmentation of the nervous oells in tho brain of a convict. Thp school of criminal anthropology in Italy has also made important contribution! to (bis )ist of facts. M. Mano h»u examined

the hands of criminals, and he haß discovered among individuals convicted of murder, among those guilty of inflicting wounds, a great preponderance of large and short hands; while with thieves tho frequency of long and narrow hands is less conmdrrable. As to the question of tattooing, he finds that the lar^nr numbpi of tattooed persons la among the assassins and assailants. M. Lombraso, together with M. M mo, has studied criminality among infants. Tiißy examined 9SQ infants, and especially 100 from the hounps of refuge. Tliey found that the criminal tjpe could be recognised at that ago, associated with bad tendencies in tho proportion of 74 per cent. The losb of a moral sense was recognised in 41 per cent., and a veritable propensity to onme in 10 per c°nt. Oat of 2'J infants they havo observed the disappearance of tha criminal tendencies partly throiiKU non-inheritanca, partly under the beneficial influence of thsir surroundings, and partly becauno their criminal passions existing at a ccrUi:i period, disappear in maturity. Tho typical criminal physiognomy has been recognised among murderers in Germany in the proportion of 3G per cent., among thieves in that of 25 per C3nt., among insolvents and persons convicted of bigamy to the extent of 6 per oent. Among females this type wag found in 28 pur cent. With ordinary men and women tlnstjpe was only found 14 times amoug 815 individuals, among whom 8 were doubtiul. Tomasira, Bono, andDepaoli have asserted the great capacity of the orbits or eye Rockets and prevalent Daltonism. M. Bouo also insists upon the swiftuos>s of vision among criminals. But perhaps the most curious observations were made upon the different strength of the two hands. By means of the dynamometer M.M. Mano and Lo abraso ob-iurwd that 23 percent, of the criminals examined possessed mor« power in the left hand, while tho number of ordinary subjects having this peculiarity was only 14 per cent. In addition, in examining left handed people their number amon^ the criminals far exceeded that among others, with a stronger showing to this effect amon^ women than men. It was alco found among criminals that the right lob?s of their brains were more developed than the left, while the weight of the brain was in many cusea exesasive. In general sensitiveness and in sensitiveness to pain the criminals fell below the average. In ruddiness ot the skin, criminals ar<a very duticieut, requiring three and fiva drops of nitrate of amyl lo provoke a blush. M H°nri Feiri has shown that the jaws of criminals ate large, that iv tact a jaw of larg" dimensions coexists not only with the greatest development of the negative functions, but with greater ferocity and stubbornnesi, being greatest among murderers, smaller among thieves. Criminals' skulls are flattened. These scattered facts, selected from many others, indicate to what interesting and possibly useful conclusions this study of criminal anthropometry may lead.