Short answers, pulled from the story.
Hermann Dessau began compiling the three-volume collection of Latin inscriptions in the late nineteenth century. The project spanned twenty-four years with publication occurring serially from 1892 until 1916.
Caput serves as the singular form for the Latin name given to each chapter within the work. These chapters organize entries by subject matter such as funerary inscriptions or documents related to collegia.
Scholars locate any text simply by referencing its unique identifying number assigned by the editor known as an ILS number. This numerical system allows researchers to cross-reference different collections without confusion.
The first volume appeared in Berlin during 1892 and covered entries numbered one through 2956. Supporting material throughout all volumes remained entirely in Latin.
Rome published one version of this cross-reference tool in 1950. A second edition released from Berlin followed five years later in 1955.