already studied the subject may find it of value for its general presentation. In its method and order of treatment the book is the
expression of the author's experience during the last ten years in
teaching the subject to students, most of whom have been planning to
take up chemistry as a profession.
In attempting to correlate theoretical principles with industrial
practice the author has not done more than to mention, in cases where
it seems desirable, the fact that a given synthesis is the basis of indus-
trial processes. No effort has been made, in most cases, to describe
the technical procedure. In a few of the more common processes
some description of the industrial procedure is given, but without any
claim that it is exact in minute detail. It is important to emphasize
the fact, that oftentimes in industrial practice, reactions while no doubt
following the course worked out in the laboratory, are nevertheless
frequently shortened by doubling up or by changing physical condi-
tions, so that the process and the laboratory synthesis seem to be quite
distinct. If this is kept in mind the author feels that the student will
find no difficulty in gaining from a study of this text that fundamental
knowledge of the theory of organic chemistry on which all practice
rests, and at the same time a realization of the direct connection of
this theory with the tremendous industrial application of organic
chemistry to the life of the world.