JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
194
RALPH E. OESPER University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
NOTmany chemists live into their tenth decade and far fewer continue active work in the laboratory after reaching four score and ten. However, longevity and exceptional retention of working powers do not in themselves constitute claims to lasting distinction; what is done with these exceptional opportunities is the main item. Georges DenigBs wasborn on December 25, 1859, a t Bordeaux, and he has spent most of his life in his native city. Like many of the early French chemists, he came to chemistry through medicine. After receiving his M.D. degree a t Bordeauxin 1884, with a thesis, "Contribution $. lJacidit6de I'urine," he went to Paris for training inscience. His De,i;e, at ofgo Docteur Bs sciences (1891), for which he offered the dissertation, "Recherches sur les combinaisons de sulfites metalliques avec les amines aromatiques," was followed by a third degree, Pharmacien superieur (1892), with the thesis, "Contribution a 1'6tude des lactoses." He also secured the certificate "agi-kg6 de chimie medicale," i. e., he was officially declared competent to teach this subject. In 1898 the University of Bordeaux created for him a chair of biological chemistry, and he filled this post until 1930, when he reached the legal retiring age. His retirement by no means marked the close of his scientific career; as honorary professor he has continued to work and
publish. Despite his advanced age he still goes to the laboratory regularly. Professor DenigBs has put out almost 600 publications since his first paper appeared in 1880. These include 59 communications presented to the Acadernie des Sciences and inserted in its Comptes rendus. Special attention is merited by six important papers in the Annales de Chimie: (1) A new cyanimetric method and its applications; (2) New classes of mercuric organic compounds and their applications; (3) A critical and experimental study of the localization of arsenic; (4) A chronometric method applied to quantitative analysis; (5) Analytical reactions of some organic functions based on their transformation into aldehydic and ketonic derivatives; (6) Ceruleo-molybdimetry, applicable in microchemistry to the determination of phosphate and arsenate. A series of studies of triazol should also be noted. The bulk of his work has dealt with many and varied aspects of analytical chemistry. His contributions to microchemistry are especially important; they extend into all fields of inorganic, organic, and biological chemistry. For example, 125 notes, etc., have appeared on microcrystalloscopy. His books include "Lepons dJAnalyse Qualitative sur les Metalloides et leurs Principaux DerivBs," "Pr6cis de Chimie Analytique," "Determination Rapide des Concretionset Sables Urinaires." Georges Deniges is an oficier of the Legion of Honor. He has been honored by the Acadernie des Sciences by the award of the Berthelot Medal and the Grand Prix Lacaze for chemistry. In 1897 he received the Prix Buignet of the Acadernie de Medicine. His memberships include the Academies of Science, of Medicine, and Pharmacy, the Belgian Academy of Medicine, etc.
rl
