In the course of the years since H. D. SCHMIDT, in 1895, describcd his "microscopic dissector," a mechanical device for dissecting and study­ ing biological materials, a great wealth of information has been pub­ lished in the scientific and technical literature on methods involving the use of exceedingly delicate microtools mechanically guided under microscopic control for the investigation of microscopic structures and very small amounts of material.. The operative tools used can be moved with considerable precision under various microscopic magnifications to perform the required tasks. With the continuous progress in these methods, hundreds of micro­ manipulators and other mechanical manipulativc devices, auxiliaryequip­ ment, and a great diversity of microtools have been described for per­ forming varied operations on practically any type of materials and test objects. Thus, micromanipulative and related techniques have become innumerable and often intricate, and the applications, formerly confined to certain fields of biology and medicine, have been extended to the most diverse fields of science and technology as mtn be Been from a rapid glance at the contents of the presEmt volume.

I Apparatus.- 1. Microscopes for Use in Micromanipulation.- a) Ordinary Compound Microscopes.- b) Special Compound Microscopes.- 2. Micromanipulators.- a) General Features.- b) Development.- ?) Early Development.- ?) More Recent Development.- c) Commercially Available Micromanipulators.- ?) Low Power Micromanipulators.- ?) High Power Micromanipulators.- 3. Microdrills.- a) The NAJET Microdrilling Machine Model 7 A.- b) The Ultrasonic Jack Hammer.- 4. Microhardness Testers.- a) The Miniload (Durimet) Microhardness Tester.- b) The Hanemann Microhardness Tester Model D 32.- 5. Apparatus for General Chemical Experimentation with Micrograms to Nanograms.- a) Working in Capillary Cones.- ?) Assembly of El-Badry and Wilson.- ?) Assembly Used by Benedetti-Pichler.- ?) Assembly Used by Cunningham and Werner.- ?) Semi-Quantitative Analysis.- ?) Gravimetric Analysis.- The Microgram Torsion Balance of Vitreous Silica.- Auxiliary Apparatus.- ?) Titration of Microgram Samples.- Working in Titration Cones.- Working in Coloriscopic Capillaries.- b) Apparatus Working in Hanging Drops.- 6. Microtools.- a) Types of Microtools.- b) Preparation of Glass Microtools.- ?) Hand Drawing.- Microburners.- Preparing Microtools by Hand Drawing.- ?) Automatic Needle and Pipet Pullers.- DuBois Needle and Pipet Puller.- Brinkmann's Needle and Pipet Puller.- Rachele's Device.- ?) The Use of the deFonbrune Microforge.- Main Components of the deFonbrune Microforge.- Preliminary Setting of the Working Parts.- Temperature and Behavior of Glass.- Basic Operations.- Preparation of Microtools.- c) Storing and Cleaning of Glass Microtools.- d) Metallic Micromanipulator Tools.- 7. Auxiliary Equipment.- a) Pipet Controlling Devices.- b) Operation Chambers.- II General Techniques.- 1. Preparation of Samples of Non-Biological Materials.- a) Sampling of Layers and Microscopic Heterogeneities in Massive Materials.- ?) General Methods.- ?) Samples of Hard Materials by Microdrilling.- b) Core Sampling of Paint Films.- c) Powders, Loose Debris, and Particles in Liquids.- d) Sampling of Airborne Particles.- e) Opening of Samples with Fluxes.- 2. Chemical Experimentation with Micrograms to Nanograms of Substance.- a) Basic Operations and Qualitative Analysis.- b) Semi-Quantitative Estimation.- c) Gravimetric Analysis.- ?) Handling of the Capillary Cone.- ?) Hindering Evaporation of Sample Solution Prior to Measuring.- ?) Gravimetric Operations.- d) Titration of Microgram Samples.- ?) Working in Titration Cones.- ?) Working in Coloriscopic Capillaries.- e) Working with Hanging Drops.- ?) Estimation of Volume of Very Small Drops.- ?) Determination of Ultimate Limits of Identification.- 3. Working with Living Cells and Tissues.- III Applications.- 1. Chemical Experimentation and Analysis with Micrograms to Nanograms.- a) Qualitative Analysis.- ?) Separation and Identification of Lead, Mercurous Mercury, Silver, and Tungsten.- ?) Separation and Identification of Cerium, Thorium, Lead, Calcium, Strontium, and Barium.- ?) Separation and Identification of the Common Ions of the Hydrogen Sulfide Group.- b) Semi-Quantitative Estimations.- c) Gravimetric Analysis of Microgram Samples.- d) Titration of Microgram Samples.- ?) Working in Titration Cones.- ?) Working in Coloriscopic Capillaries.- e) Working with Hanging Drops: The Ultimate Limits of Simple Tests.- 2. Nuclear Research.- a) Isolation of Microgram Amounts of Plutonium.- b) Investigation of Properties of Plutonium.- c) Determination of the Specific ?-Activity and of the Half-Life of Pu-239.- d) Proof of the Oxidation Number of Plutonium.- e) Solubility Measurements with Plutonium Compounds.- 3. Identification of Airborne Particles.- 4. Archeology and Art.- a) Pigments on Chinese Oracle Bones.- b) Core Sections of Paint Films.- 5. Metallurgical Microspectroscopy.- 6. Microhardness Testing.- 7. Mounting Small Crystals for X-Ray Investigations.- 8. The Study of Fibers.- 9. The Structure of Rubber Latex.- 10. Micropaleontology: Single-Mounting of Microfossils.- 11. Entomology.- a) Brain Research in Insects.- b) Artificial Insemination of the Queen Bee.- 12. Microbiology.- 13. Engineering and Technology.- Literature Cited.- General Bibliography.- Rules of Thumb.- Units of Length, Area, Volume, and Mass.