Instruction in Chemical Analysis (quantitative.)

resolved on this, he can find no guide comparable to Dr. Fresenius's work entitled "Elementary Instruction in Chemical Analysis." That work teaches him what experiments he must make to learn the characteristic properties of bodies; and when he has acquired this knowledge, what methods he must pursue to detect the presence of substances, existing together in combination or mixture. So that any kind of matter commonly met with, whether soil, mineral, or artificial production, falling into the hands of the student who has advanced thus far, he can analyse it qualitatively. He can discover infallibly what the materials are of which it is composed.

But the next step embraces a second capital division of the science. It now becomes the problem to determine the quantities of every ingredient present in any given compound. And the purpose of the present work is to teach

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS.

For the task of composing such a work, Dr. Fresenius is eminently qualified. He is well known throughout Europe as one of the most successful analysts of the age. The extensive acceptation of his first work induced him to proceed in composing the present, which, while it in one sense is a sequel to the former, (the two together constituting a manual of analytical chemistry,) is in itself a complete work.

The author very properly and justly observes, that his system is calculated to abridge and facilitate the labours of professors in practical teaching, whilst it enables a student to make safe and satisfactory progress, even when he is unable to obtain professional instruction. He says, that in the progress of his task he found most works on chemistry far more at variance with truth than he had previously imagined, and therefore he was compelled to institute a vast num

ber of experiments, to satisfy himself respecting the true value of methods and processes. To verify every statement by actual experiment, was of course out of the question, but he has done so with by far the greater majority.

I confess that I am proud of the honour of presenting such a work as the present to the English student of chemistry. Its merits are of the highest order. The arrangement is simple, methodical, and consecutive. The theoretical explanations are appropriate, clear, and intelligible; the language plain, and the directness and honesty of purpose which are displayed throughout, must commend it to every one who proceeds far enough in chemistry to meet with difficulties, and who can appreciate a qualified guide to conduct him through them. The special methods, for analysing soils, ashes of plants, mineral waters, &c. will, I am sure, be very acceptable to English chemists.

In conclusion, I must express my regret that my business avocations have caused a rather longer list of errata than usual; a few errors of the press remain uncorrected, but they do not affect the sense of the context. The reader may correct the text in a very short time; and I can only beg his indulgence on the ground of the severity of the task imposed on a translator and editor of so extensive and profound a work.