A novel method to measure the refractive index n in the near-infrared by simple extensions to a standard Abbe refractometer is described. A technique is derived to correct for the dispersion of the glass prism and experimental results of refractive-index measurements at are compared with published data. These results prove the suitability of the described method, the accuracy being comparable to that of an Abbe refractometer used in the visible range; that is, the refractive index n can be measured to an accuracy of . Finally, new refractive-index data at 830 nm are given for methanol, water, acetone, ethanol, cyclohexane, glycol, di-2-ethyl hexyl-sabacate (DEHS), carbon tetrachloride, glycerol, toluene, ethyl salicylate, methyl salicylate and cinnamaldehyde at 20 and .