NICHOLS MEDAL AWARD Presented t o William Mansfield Clark, DeLamar Professor o f Physiological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.
I
year he was assistant in chemistry. He then entered the N 1902 the late W. H. Nichols established a fund Johns Hopkins University where he held a University whereby a gold medal was to be presented annually Fellowship; he received his Ph.D. degree in 1910. From by the New York Section of the AMERICANCHEMICAL 1910 to 1920 he was a chemist in the Bureau of Animal InSOCIETY to the author of a paper or papers published dustry, U. s. Department of Agriculture, working on the within the past three years in any of the SOCIETY’S problem of eyes in Swiss cheese. This work marks his transition toward biological chemistry, for his interest journals, which, in the judgment of the jury, would was aroused in the activity of the microor anisms which have an important influence in stimulating original reproduced the good and the bad eyes in the c%eese. About search in chemistry. (For the previous recipients, 1914, partly stimulated by difficulties in preparing reproducible bacterial media, and partly by the papers of see page 582 of the May, 1934, issue, and page 847 of S$rensen and Michaelis, Dr. Clark became interested in the July, 1935, issue.) the relation of hydrogen-ion concentration to his problems. The award for 1936 to Professor Clark, for researches Then came the series of classic papers in collaboration “of incalculable value to human welfare,” was made with Dr. Lubs, in which were clearly developed the meaning of pH, its place in biological problems, and a descripat a dinner meeting of the New York Section of the tion of accurate methods for its determination. Here AMERICANCHEMICAL SOCIETY at the Hotel Pennsylwere reported in detail the preparation and characteristics vania, New York, March 6, 1936. I n presenting the of that beautiful series of acid-base indicators to be found medal, A. W. Hixson, chairman of the Jury of Award, today in every laboratory; and it was all written so clearly that anyone who could read could follow the direcsaid in part: tions and obtain good results. In 1920 he wrote a book Tonight we honor a foundation-builder. By workwhich is now infits third edition, entitled “The Detering diligently and carefully in the field of oxidation mination of Hydrogen Ions.” Probably no scientific and reduction eauilibria, and by detextbook since the war has found its wav veloping new and-practical methoas for into the hands of workers in such a wid; the determination of hydrogen-ion convariety of fields. centration, Dr. Clark has given to In 1920 Professor Clark left the BuAmerican chemistry a set of fundamenreau of Animal Industry to become protal principles that are basic in many fessor of chemistr of the Hygienic Labofields of scientific endeavor. Wherever ratory of the 5. Public Health in pure and applied science water soluService. There he began publication of tions enter into chemical reactions, the the now classic series, “Studies on Oxiprinciples which Dr. Clark has disdation-Reduction,’’ in 1923 with four covered in his work on oxidation and rearticles. This series is now in its duction equilibria serve as a starting twenties and the end is not in sight. point for the explanation of the mechaHi h scientific honors have come to nism of these reactions. These studies, Dr. &ark He was elected to the Natogether with his methods for the detional Academy of Sciences and has been termination of hydrogen-ion concena conscientious member of the editorial tration, have made it possible for the board of the Journal of Biological Chemworkers in the fields of physiology, istry. Both the Society of American internal medicine, surgery, nutrition, Bacteriologists and the American Society water supply purification, sewage disof Biological Chemists made him their p o d , fermentation, and in hundreds of president in 1932. special fields of applied chemistry, to In his 1933 Harvey Lecture, Professor extend their researches and control WILLIAM MANSFIELD CLARK Clark stressed the conception of the their processes. Foundation stones of oxidation-reduction continuum. This chemical science, truly, that will stand the tests of time. is the best word with which to describe his own scientific career. His contributions to chemistry-and I advisedly D* Van Sbke of the Rockefeller Institute, spoke do not specify biological or bacteriological or organic on the personal aspects of the medalist’s career, and chemistry-have been a continuum. Neither change of A. Baird Hastings, of the Harvard Medical School, dislaboratory nor change of duty has seriously interrupted cussed his scientific achievements in part as follows: his scientific productiveness. Clark received the B.A. degree from Williams College in Then the medal address Was given by Dr. Clark and 1907, and the M.A. degree for studies in chemistry and physics from the same institution in 1908. During that is presented herewith.
5.
619
