Part One. Introduction. -- The organization of the National Defense Research Committee: general plan -- Part Two. History of Division 8. -- Introduction to the history of Division 8 -- The history of Division 8 central laboratories -- Synthetic work on explosives -- Research on detonation and shock waves -- Evaluation of explosives and munitions -- Development of explosive compositions and devices -- Molded composite propellants -- Application of molded composite propellant -- Propellants based on nitrocellulose -- Tracers and igniters -- Part Three. History of Division 9. -- Relationships of NDRC to the armed services and to allied countries in chemical warfare -- The organization of Division 9 -- Synthesis and stabilization of chemical warfare agents -- Protective clothing and ointments -- The detection, identification, and analysis of chemical warfare agents -- The toxicity and vesicancy of chemical warfare agents -- The physiological mechanism of action of chemical warfare agents -- Part Four. History of Division 10. -- General scope of Division 10 activities -- The filtration of aerosols -- Screening smokes -- Chemical warfare munitions -- toxic aerosols -- Gas mask absorbents and related problems -- Offensive chemical warfare and related problems -- Insecticide dispersal -- Part Five. History of Division 11. -- The organization of Division 11 -- The oxygen program -- Miscellaneous chemical engineering problems -- Incendiary bombs -- Incendiary fuels -- History of NDRC flame-thrower development -- Part Six. History of Division 19. -- Weapons for sabotage -- Part Seven. History of Tropical Deterioration Committee. -- The study of tropical deterioration -- Epilogue -- Appendices. -- A. Organization charts for Division B, NDRC -- B. Membership of the National Defense Research Committee of the Office of Scientific Research and Development -- C. Personnel of Division 8, NDRC -- D. Service personnel closely associated with Division 8 -- E. Organization of Explosives Research Laboratory -- F. The CWS-NDRC Technical Committee -- G. Technical Division, Chemical Warfare Service -- H. Project co-ordination staff, CWS -- I. Personnel of Division 9, NDRC, Chemistry -- J. Personnel of Division 11, NDRC, Chemical engineering -- K. Joint NDRC-Army-Navy Tropical Deterioration Steering Committee -- L. Tropical Deterioration Administrative Committee and subcommittees.