1. A table and figure recognition method, comprising the steps of: reading image information from a document, the image information denoting a table or a figure; producing binary data from the image information, the binary data being formed of a group of black pixels; detecting a rectangle circumscribed about the group of black pixels designating the binary data as a circumscribed rectangle; extracting one or more lateral lines respectively composed of a plurality of black pixels which are placed in an inside area of the circumscribed rectangle and are adjacent to each other in a lateral direction of the document; extracting one or more longitudinal lines respectively composed of a plurality of black pixels which are placed in the inside area of the circumscribed rectangle and are adjacent to each other in a longitudinal direction of the document; counting the number N.sub.P1 of black pixels composing the lateral lines and the longitudinal lines extracted; counting the number N.sub.P2 of black pixels which are placed in the inside area of the circumscribed rectangle and are adjacent to each other in the lateral direction, the longitudinal direction or a diagonal direction of the document; calculating a ratio of the number N.sub.P1 to the number N.sub.P2 ; recognizing the image information read from the document as a table in cases where the ratio calculated is higher than a prescribed value; and recognizing the image information read from the document as a figure in cases where the ratio calculated is not higher than the prescribed value.