290 JSean-Baptiste-André Dumas. 
first appears in public. The discovery produced a great sensa- 
tion, and for many years the manufacture of iodine prepara- 
tions brought both wealth and reputation to the pharmacy of 
Le Royer. 
Soon after, Dumas formed an intimacy with Dr. J. L. 
Prévost, then recently returned from pursuing his studies in 
Edinburg and Dublin, and was induced to undertake a series 
of physiological investigations, which for a time withdrew him 
from his strictly chemical studies. Several valuable papers on 
physiological subjects were published by Prévost and Dumas, 
which attracted the notice of Alexander von Humboldt, who 
manifested their interest in the young investigator. Dumas 
was soon appointed Répétiteur de Chimie at ie Kole Poly- 
rapid. 
In 1826 he married Mdlle. Herminie Brongniart, the eldest 
daughter of Alexandre Brongniart, the illustrious geologist, an 
alliance which not only brought him great happiness, and at 
the time greatly advanced his social position, but also in after 
years made his house one of the chief resorts of the scientific 
society of Paris. The many who have shared its generous 
hospitality will appreciate how greatly, for more than half a 
century, Madame Dumas has aided the work and extended 
the influence of her noble husband. ; 
1828-29 Dumas united with Théodore Olivier and Eugene 
Péclet in founding the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manu 
factures, an institution which met with great success; 1 
which, as Professor of Chemistry, Dumas rendered most efficient 
service for many years, and in 1878 had the very good fortune 
to aid in celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of his own founda 
tion, and to see it acknowledged as among the most important 
and efficient scientific institutions of the world. In 1832 Dumas 
succeeded Gay-Lussac as Professor at the Sorbonne; in 188? 
he succeeded Thenard at the Ecole Polytechnique; and 1 
1839 he succeeded Deyeux at the Ecole de Médecine. Thus 
