VII. 
A COMPEND OF LABORATORY MANIPULATION. 
It is the design of the series of papers, of which this is the first, to 
present in concise form the methods of investigation which have proven 
themselves of greatest service in the laboratories of this country and 
Europe. No attempt at originality or completeness is made, but only 
such methods as have been experimentally proven useful will be admit- 
ted, while free use will be made of the modern text-books of Fol and 
Hussak. 
• It is acknowledged by all students that the proper method of re- 
search is the first essential to the prosecution of any line of investiga- 
tion, and it is often stated that he who spends but half the time allotted 
to a given study in experimentally learning the best manipulation to 
employ, need not regret the time so spent. 
The present paper deals with lithological appliances and methods 
and is supplemented by a condensed translation and adaptation of Hus- 
sak’s Einleitung.” No apology is necessary for reducing the for- 
mulae to the system in vogue in this country nor for giving i^rominence 
to the subject of lithology, in view of its rising importance and increas- 
ing recognition. 
CHAPTER I. 
Lithological Manipulation. 
A. Rock Sections. 
In no department of geology has there been so great an advance 
of late in this country as in the study of the intimate structure of rocks 
by means of thin sections. The science of lithology is rapidly 
evolving from a chaotic condition and assuming the similitude of a sys- 
tem. Although the pursuit of this study has been confined to a limit- 
ed circle and it has scarcely appeared in our literature, much may be 
expected in the near future. 
