Posted on Monday, May 21, 2001 - 08:58 pm:

The Plastic Surgeon and Crime
By Jacques W. Maliniak, M. D.

In 1882, Alphonse Bertillon, a young French anthropologist, became imbued with the idea that physical anthropology could be invoked to aid in the sight recognition and identification of criminals. Employing the anthropometrical methods of scientific description, he worked out a system of identification utilizing eleven skeletal measurements which are practicably unchanged after maturity and are not affected by increase or loss of weight. It must be remembered that Bertillon worked out his system prior to the adoption of fingerprint; and his idea was promptly carried out in many countries. A Bureau of Identification was established in the Paris Police Department and the twenty-year-old scientist made its head. His system was far more accurate than previous police descriptions which were based on general data, such as the complexion, color of the hair and eyes, shape of face, nose and ears, etc., and on special bodily marks, like moles, scars, tattooing and the like. His "portrait parle" gave a minute description of wanted persons, based on chromatic and morphological determinations, general attributes like stoutness, carriage, voice and social standing, and indelible marks.

Dr. Juan Vucetich: His Contribution to the Science of Fingerprints
By Carey L. Chapman

This (Bertillon's) method, sometimes called portrait parle, used eleven measurements obtained from certain bony parts of the body, and was utilized extensively, at that time, in European countries

Police Composite Art, Facial Reconstruction and Other Techniques
By Horace Heafner

In the 1880s, Alphonse Bertillon, sometimes called the father of scientific detection, developed an identification system referred to as “portrait Parle” or “speaking likeness”. This system was a compilation of facial features taken from photographs with descriptive detail provided. Originally, Bertillon meant for the catalog to be an identification aid for the recognition of local prisoners but it later was found to be useful in obtaining descriptions of unknown suspects. Bertillon’s classification provided a basis for modern recall systems that would aid the artist in producing sketches as well as the development of composite kits, catalogs and computer systems.