NFUSE, from which so much of
the comfort of modern life, both savage and civilized, is
derived--THE SWEETS WE EXTRACT, the history of which presents so
striking an illustration of the economical value of chemical
science--THE LIQUORS WE FERMENT, so different from the sweets in
their action on the system, and yet so closely connected with
them in chemical history--THE NARCOTICS WE INDULGE IN, as
presenting us with an aspect of the human constitution which,
both chemically and physiologically, is more mysterious and
wonderful than any other we are acquainted with--THE ODOURS WE
ENJOY AND THE SMELLS WE DISLIKE; the former because of the
beautiful illustration it presents of the recent progress of
organic chemistry in its relations to comforts of common life,
and the latter because of its intimate connection with our most
important sanitary arrangements--WHAT WE BREATHE FOR and WHY WE
DIGEST, as functions of the body at once the most important to
life, and the most purely chemical in their nature--THE BODY WE
CHERISH, as presenting many striking phenomena, and performing
many interesting chemical functions not touched upon in the
discussion of the preceding topics--and lastly, THE CIRCULATION
OF MATTER, as exhibiting in one view the end, purpose, and
method of all the changes in the natural body, in organic
nature, and in the mineral kingdom, which are connected with and
determine the existence of life.

It has been the object of the Author in this Work to exhibit the
present condition of chemical knowledge and of matured
scientific opinion upon the subjects to which it is devoted. The
reader will not be surprised, therefore, should he find in it
some things which differ from what is to be found in other
popular works already in his hands or on the shelves of his
library.

The Work is being published in 5 or 6 NUMBERS, price 25 cents
each, in the following order, forming 1 vol. 12mo. of about 400
pages.

1. The AIR we Breathe and
2. The WATER we Drink.
3. The SOIL we Cultivate and
4. The PLANT we Rear.
5. The BREAD we Eat and
6. The BEEF we Cook.
7. The BEVERAGES we Infuse.
8. The SWEETS we Extract.
9. The LIQUORS we Ferment.
10. The NARCOTICS we Indulge in.
11. The ODOURS we Enjoy and
12. The SMELLS we Dislike.
13. What we BREATHE