The extraordinary quantity of material included in the Gmelin Handbook
of Inorganic Chemistry can make it extremely difficult to find a
specific compound using only a general un- derstanding of the basic
rules for the arrangement of the subject matter (the so-called "System
ofthe Last Position"). Consequently, subject indexes have been provided
for the past few years to individual Handbook volumes, covering only a
single section, or in some cases, a complete system number. During this
period a comprehensive subject index-the Gmelin Index-was being
prepared, whose first volume is now available. The broad distribution
and extensive utilization enjoyed by the Gmelin Handbook in Eng-
lish-speaking countries has led to a decision to publish the Gmelin
Index in the English lan- guage. This decision was partly based on the
fact that since the English language today oc- cupies a preeminent
position in the field of chemistry, a German-speaking user could utilize
an English text much more readily than would be the case for an
English-speaking user and a German text.