In this latter respect the individualism of modern science has not infrequently led to a great waste of power the same bit of work has been repeated in different countries at different times, owing to the absence of such histories as Dr Todhunter set himself to write.the various Jahrbücher and Fortschritte now reduce the possibility of this repetition, but besides their frequent insufficiency they are at best but indices to the work of the last few years an enormous amount of matter is practically stored out of sight in the Transactions and Journals of the last century and of the first half of the present century. On the other hand it serves as a guide to the investigator in what has been done, and what ought to be done. It forms on the one hand the history of a peculiar phase of intellectual development, worth studying for the many side lights it throws on general human progress. The use of a work of this kind is twofold.The principle which has guided me throughout the additions I have made has been to make the work, so far as it lay in my power, a standard work of reference for its own branch of science.For all the Articles in this volume whose numbers are enclosed in square brackets I am alone responsible, as well as for the corresponding footnotes, and the Appendix with which the volume concludes. I may appear to have exceeded the duty of an editor.Neumann in the latter case the regret is deepened by the recent publication of his lectures on elasticity. regret that I have not devoted special chapters to such elasticians as Hodgkinson, Wertheim and F. With this exception any article in this volume the number of which is not included in square brackets is due entirely to Dr Todhunter. The remarks are inclosed in square brackets. The changes I have made in that manuscript are of the following character the introduction of a uniform terminology and notation, the correction of clerical and other obvious errors, the insertion of cross-references, the occasional introduction of a remark or of a footnote.The treatise based principally on the works of Lamé, Saint-Venant and Clebsch is yet to a great extent historical, many paragraphs are composed of analyses of important memoirs. Dr Todhunter's manuscript consists of two distinct parts, the first contains a purely mathematical treatise on the theory of the 'perfect' elastic solid the second a history of the theory of elasticity.the memoirs being of historical rather than scientific interest, and their language often the most characteristic part of their historical value. The symbols and terms used in the manuscript are occasionally those of the original memoirs, occasionally those of Lamé or of Saint-Venant.onsistency in will be found after the middle of the chapter devoted to Poisson.he notation and terminology will be found fully discussed in Notes B-D of the Appendix, which I would ask the reader to examine before passing to the text.to be available for easy reference, and not merely of interest to the historical student. writer's terminology and notation must be abandoned and a uniform terminology and notation adopted for the whole book. into the work that I felt convinced that. placed in my hands the manuscript of the late Dr Todhunter's History of Elasticity, in order that it might be edited and completed. Quotes Preface (June 23, 1886) by Karl Pearson, editor and in parts, co-writer.
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