When this book was first published in 1953, certain methods for the estimation of the functional groups in organic compounds were widely known and used, but many other simple methods remained unnoticed and used, though they give better results. A review of the literature to the end of 1951 is made here, and all the important ways of analysis are described with full details. Abstracts and references to other methods are given and many special estimations are described in outline. The following compounds and groupings are included: olefines, alcohols, enols, phenols, mercaptans, aldehides and ketones, acetyl, benzoyl, methoxyl, ethoxyl, propoxyl, butoxyl, methylimino, ethylimino, methyl and ethyl groups attached to sulphur, the methyl group attached to carbon, amines and amino compounds, nitro, nitroso, cyano, and isocyanates and isothiocyanates. Several alternative experiments are described for each, so that it should always be possible to select a method suitable for a particular group in a particular compound. Dr Wild's book should stimulate interest in this branch of organic chemistry. It will serve as a useful laboratory manual at all stages, but more especially during research.