Louis Pasteur Arranges for the Publication of One of His Addresses

Edward Jenner had discovered that human beings could be protected against smallpox by inoculating them with a vaccine made from cowpox, a disease generally seen in cattle and identical to smallpox yet harmless in humans. Jenner’s discovery was based on exceptional circumstances – the existence of a disease similar to the human disease, but in animals, with a causative agent that triggers a protective response in humans.

Louis Pasteur was a French chemist who is recognized as the most important figure in medical history for proving that germs cause infection and disease. He also developed pasteurization of milk and beer to kill these microorganisms, as well as vaccines against anthrax and rabies and pioneered antisepsis by doctors. His contributions are of such magnitude that he was named as #12 in the book “The 100 Most Influential Persons in History”, following the likes of Isaac Newton, John Gutenberg and Jesus.

His great step forward with the first use of injection by a laboratory- created vaccination process: the first vaccine as we know it today. In 1872, despite enduring a stroke and the death of 2 of his daughters to typhoid, Louis Pasteur created the first modern vaccine: the vaccine for fowl cholera in chickens.

In 1885, he successfully set out to prevent rabies through post-exposure vaccination.

Autograph letter signed, July 3, no year, on his Pasteur letterhead, to Mr. Noel-Bretagne. “Dear Sir, Mr. Battal urgently requests me to send him for his newspaper the manuscript of the speech which I made at the distribution of awards in Auvillars.

“I have no copy of the same.

“Will you be good enough to send me this manuscript at 66 Rue de Rennes.”

Battal was editor of a scientific publication.