Louis Pasteur: The Life and Legacy of the Legendary French Scientist Recognized as the Father of Microbiology

by Charles River Editors

*Includes pictures *Includes quotes about Pasteur's life and work *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents “Do not let yourself be tainted with a barren skepticism.” – Louis Pasteur While it would be impossible to name every individual who has contributed to the ever-advancing field of science, it almost goes without saying that one of the most important was Louis Pasteur, father of microbiology and modern immunology. Apart from propelling the field of vaccination to new heights, this visionary scientist would also revolutionize a significant part of the beverage industry, and highlight the importance of sterilization. These are only some of the extraordinary achievements on Louis' glaring résumé, one so well-rounded and extensive that it beggars belief. Like many other polymaths, this inspirational figure has become an unwitting incendiary, and he has attracted his fair share of critics over the years. Though undoubtedly one of the greatest intellectuals to have ever graced the world of science, Louis was also a conveniently private man steeped in scandal, fraudulence, and secrecy, which only makes his story all the more riveting. In 1995, which UNESCO declared “The Year of Pasteur,” Louis Pasteur’s name was posthumously disgraced on an international stage as a controversy ensued that would have certainly caused him to roll in his grave. Pasteur had remained a secretive man until the day of his death, even ordering his family members to hold onto his private journals and never disclose them to anyone. Most chalked it up to the man's introversion, and his secrets might have indeed died with him if not for his last surviving descendant, who donated the scientist’s notes to the French National Library in the 1970s. Not only did Louis oversell some of his findings, he had, as it appears, unabashedly lied about the results of his experiments, and he has since been accused of stealing credit for some of his work. Concerning his rabies trials with the diseased mutts, for example, it was revealed that only 30 – a fraction of what Louis had reported – had been examined, and at least a third of them died from their illnesses. Most distressing of all, the “foolproof” vaccine he injected into the dogs was not the same vaccine he used on Joseph Meister, which meant that he had exposed the child to an untested treatment. On top of “regularly violat[ing] the standard conception of the scientific method,” as Princeton University historian Gerald Geison puts it, Pasteur’s work on anthrax, he claims, “is a clear example of scientific misconduct by the current definition.” Rumor has it that Jean-Joseph Henri Toussaint, a local veterinarian, was conducting research on the bacterium at the same time, but Toussaint used a chemical formula he personally designed instead of oxygen. Enraptured by the progress he was making, Toussaint visited Pasteur and made the mistake of confiding in him the recipe for the chemical formula. Before Toussaint knew it, Pasteur had appropriated his formula, and began using it in his public experiments. At the end of the day, whether or not Louis Pasteur is fully deserving of all the credit he’s received is still a matter of dispute, but one truth is incontestable. Pasteur revolutionized biology and ushered it into the modern era, and the institute erected in his honor continues to bring about tremendous advances that are slowly, but surely making the world a better place. Louis The Life and Legacy of the Legendary French Scientist Recognized as the Father of Microbiology examines the career that made Pasteur one of the 19th century’s foremost scientists.

Genres: Science, History, Biography

80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2018

About the author

Charles River Editors is an independent publisher of thousands of ebooks on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple iBookstore & provider of original content for third parties.

Reviews

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about Louis Pasteur, the father of microbiology and pasteurization. It was fascinating to learn that Louis was a wastrel in his younger years and didn't get serious about his studies later in his academic career. However, he made up for lost time with the work he initiated later.

The most interesting part of the story occurred after his death. Pasteur demanded that his private journals never be given to the scientific community after his death. However, many years later, one of the remaining Pasteur family members gave them to the French National Library in 1070, which started a firestorm. It seems that Pasteur tinkered with his findings. Pasteur overstated some of his conclusions and lied about others. He also stole credit from others, claiming it was his work.

Because of these journals, Pasteur's reputation was seriously damaged. However, the dust has settled, and people credit Pasteur with revolutionizing biology. This was fascinating reading.

[Vickie Woodard · Rating 5 out of 5]

REMARKABLE MAN

I've always admired Pasteur, but all I knew about him was th paragraph or two in the general science book.
His dedication to his job is beyond belief, even when he was working with just silkworms.

[John P. Vickers · Rating 5 out of 5]

And amazing man

And amazing man! Even a genius is always attacked by critics!! Critics are forgotten pioneers live on and change the world