176 Analysis of Scientific Books and Memoirs. 



lication of these works, he has been professionally occupied as a Lecturer 

 on Chemistry, and a Superintendant of Chemical Manufactories, and more 

 recently he has been called to the situation of Experimental Assistant to 

 Dr Hope, and of Conductor of the Classes of Practical Chemistry, which 

 are carried on in the University under the superintendence of that emi- 

 nent; Professor. 



In this advantageous position, with the use of the finest materials, and 

 perhaps the most magnificent chemical apparatus in Europe, Mr Reid has 

 enjoyed the best opportunities of acquiring a thorough knowledge of all 

 the processes and manipulations of practical chemistry. These means of in- 

 formation, indeed, appear in various parts of the present treatise, in which 

 a great mass of practical information is well arranged, condensed within 

 moderate limits, and conveyed with much clearness of conception and per- 

 spicuity of language. 



The immediate object of the present work is to describe a systematic 

 series of experiments, with such minute directions to the student as can- 

 not fail to enable him to perform them himself, and thus to acquire, along 

 witli a knowledge of the subject, habits of nice manipulation in the various 

 operations of chemistry. Mr Faraday had previously published an admir- 

 able Treatise on Chemical Manipulation, marked with the talent and inge- 

 nuity of that celebrated chemist, but a more elementary and detailed work 

 was still wanting for the chemical student. 



This desideratum Mr Reid has well supplied. The work is divided in- 

 to two parts, the first of which embraces a comprehensive and arranged 

 series of experiments on the various chemical bodies which the material 

 world contains. The second part comprehends several important subjects, 

 with which the student should make himself acquainted as he proceeds 

 with the experiments, with a description of miscellaneous apparatus, and 

 other general topics and methods, which require to be studied before he 

 commences the individual experiments. 



The following general view of the plan of the work will enable the 

 reader to form some idea of its contents. 



Part I. Division I. — Simple Substances. 



Class I. Simple substances not metallic, and their combinations. 

 Class II. Metals and their combinations with* non-metallic sub- 

 stances, and with one another. 

 Division II. Veiretahle and Mineral Substances, 



Part II. Class I. Description of an Improved sliding scale of Chemical 

 Equivalents. II. Miscellaneous Apparatus. III. Scales and Ce- 

 ments. IV. Blowpipe. V. Test Apparatus. VI. Electricity and 

 Galvanism. VII. Galvanic Battery. VIII. Acidemetry and 

 Alkalimetry. IX. Method of measuring Specific Gravities. 

 X. Tables of Weights and Measures, — correspondence between 

 thermometers, — freezing mixtures. 



There is one peculiarity in this work which, we arc persuaded, will be 

 equally useful to the student, and to those who may use it as a work of con- 



