Chapter I: Preface

MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION of organic and inorganic matter is so peculiarly characteristic of the actual state of science, that the Author has ventured to give a sketch of some of the most prominent discoveries in the life and structure of the lower vegetable and marine animals in addition to a few of those regarding inert matter.

The Author feels bound to return her best thanks to kind friends—Sir John Herschel, Mr. Huggins, Mr. Gwyn Jeffrey, Prof. Tyndall, and Mr. T. Moore of Chelsea, who have aided in revising some of the sheets for press, and have thus counteracted the disadvantage under which she labours, of a residence abroad, and at a distance from libraries of reference.

CONTENTS

OF

THE FIRST VOLUME.

PART I.

ATOMS AND MOLECULES OF MATTER.

SECT. PAGE

I. ELEMENTARY CONSTITUTION OF MATTER 1

II. ON FORCE, AND THE RELATIONS BETWEEN FORCE AND 23
MATTER

III. ATOMIC THEORY, ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS OF MATTER, 93
UTILITY OF WASTE SUBSTANCES—COAL-TAR COLOURS, ETC.

IV. THE SOLAR SPECTRUM, SPECTRUM ANALYSIS, SPECTRA OF 129
GASES AND VOLATILIZED MATTER, INVERSION OF
COLOURED LINES, CONSTITUTION OF SUN AND STARS