In the last 500 years, the worldwide community of chemistry has produced individuals who attempted to synthesize a coherent view of chemistry that could be taught to actual students. This book attempts to define the characteristics of good chemical preceptors. Even chemical geniuses can become so focused on their own work that they are not understood by the bulk of their contemporaries and cannot contribute to the synoptic view of chemistry needed for effective teaching. It is hoped that the insights presented in this work will be of benefit to all current preceptors in chemistry.

Vols. for 1871-76, 1913-14 include an extra number, The Christmas bookseller, separately paged and not included in the consecutive numbering of the regular series.