IV PREFACE 



found to lead to better results if the student is obliged to dis- 

 cover for himself, under guidance, the characteristic morphol- 

 ogy of the materials studied and having found typical crystals, 

 fibers, etc., to sketch them in his note-book. (2) The cost of 

 the book to the student would have been very greatly increased. 

 This explanation is not offered as an apology for the short- 

 comings of this book, which the author appreciates are many, 

 but is given as an expression of his opinion that better work 

 can be obtained from students providing there is adequate 

 assistance given in the laboratory. 



In order to meet the often expressed needs of advanced stu- 

 dents and of professional chemists, a Handbook of Microscopic 

 Qualitative Analysis is in preparation which will be copiously 

 illustrated by photo-micrographs and which will thus serve to 

 supplement the present introductory text. 



In answer to repeated requests, a brief synopsis of the course 

 in Introductory Chemical Microscopy as now given in the 

 Department of Chemistry, Cornell University, has been inserted 

 in the Appendix. 



The author is indebted to Professor S. H. Gage and to Mr. 

 C. W. Mason for many helpful suggestions in the preparation 

 of this second edition. 



E. M. C. 



Ithaca, N. Y., Jan. 25, 1921. 



