The practical portion of the present work has in part already appeared as an article, by one of the authors, in ‘Spons’ EncyclopÆdia of the Industrial Arts.’ Since its publication, however, many and important improvements have been introduced in this, as in other branches of the art of paper-making, which necessitated considerable additions to the original article. It has at the same time been to a great extent re-written, and, as the authors hope, improved.

Our object in writing this book has been to bring before students and others the principles upon which scientific paper-making should be conducted, a concise exposition of which has not, we believe, been hitherto attempted.

Considerable prominence has been given to this aspect of the subject, possibly at the expense of what some may consider more essential details.

A belief in the importance of a thorough scientific training for paper-makers has dictated the style and purpose of the book.

We have not thought it necessary to enter into minute details respecting the construction of machinery, &c.; for these the reader is referred to such works as Hofmann’s Treatise on the Manufacture of Paper.

Much of the scientific portion is here published for the first time. Part of it has already appeared in the form of papers read before various societies.

The chapter relating to the Treatment of Wood formed the subject of an essay, which obtained the prize offered by the Scottish Paper-makers’ Association, in connection with the Edinburgh Forestry Exhibition, 1884.

We would here express our obligations to Messrs. G. and W. Bertram, Messrs. Masson, Scott, and Bertram, Messrs. Roeckner and Co., and others, for their courtesy in furnishing us with the drawings from which the illustrations were prepared; to Dr. C. R. A. Wright, F.R.S., who kindly communicated the substance of the chapter on the Action of Cuprammonium on Cellulose; to Mr. Carl Christensen, for drawings and information regarding the manufacture of mechanical wood-pulp; also to the following friends, among others, who have, in various ways, rendered us important assistance:—Messrs. R. C. Menzies, C. M. King, G. E. Davis, A. Beckwith, and C. Beadle.