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Legacy of Louis Pasteur
By peace | September 29, 2011
Louis Pasteur
Name: Louis Pasteur
Birth Date: December 27, 1822
Death Date: September 28, 1895
Place of Birth: Dôle, France
Place of Death: Paris, France
Nationality: French
Gender: Male
Occupations: chemist, microbiologist
Louis Pasteur was recognized for his achievements in his final years. Pasteur founded the science of microbiology and proved that most infectious diseases are caused by micro-organisms. This became known as the “germ theory” of disease. He was the inventor of the process of pasteurisation and also developed vaccines for several diseases including rabies. The discovery of the vaccine for rabies led to the founding of the Pasteur Institute in Paris in 1888. In 1884, the first biography of Louis Pasteur was published. His hard work, even through illness, was one reason for his great success. However, because work always came first, his family may have suffered. His wife, Marie, once wrote to her son,”Your father is as preoccupied as ever; he hardly speaks to me, sleeps little, and rises at dawn.”
Louis Pasteur is considered one of the fathers of modern microbiology. An institute in Paris, France, bears his name and continues his legacy of study and research. He was ranked number 11 in Michael H. Hart’s book, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History.
Through his experiments on fermentations, he proved that various microorganisms were responsible for the process of fermentation, thus launching the science of bacteriology. Then Pasteur turned his focus to human diseases. His desire to do more than merely identify disease-causing germs led him to a preventive rabies vaccination. In the 1890s, vaccination was extended to diphtheria, typhoid fever, cholera and plague, creating a modern immunological science.
The work of Pasteur and the many others who followed him in isolating the specific bacteriological causes of many diseases had immense impact. By providing an effective means of treating and preventing infectious diseases, they revolutionized medicine.
Pasteur’s contribution is broader than his launching of the science of bacteriology. He was one of the first to apply modern experimental science to medicine. In the process, he helped to demonstrate that science is not a mere intellectual endeavor largely divorced from the real world, but that it can have a vital role in directly making possible healthier, longer and ultimately happier lives for people the world over.
Avenue Louis Pasteur in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area in Boston, Massachusetts is named in his honor in the French manner with “Avenue” preceding the name of the dedicatee.
The Avenue Pasteur in Saigon, Vietnam, is one of the few streets in that city to retain its French name.
In the television program Star Trek: The Next Generation, the show’s main characters complete the final mission aboard the U.S.S. Pasteur. The show’s chief medical officer is portrayed as being the captain of this ship in the future (relative to the show’s main story line), which can be seen as a tribute to Pasteur by selecting his name for this medical ship.
In the TV series True Blood, it is revealed that in 1982 Pasteur is a vampire working on a synthetic blood substitute for the purpose of allowing vampires to live without needing to feed on humans.
More Links about Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur Timeline
Germs Everywhere
Tragedies of Louis Pasteur
History of Pasteurization Video
All About Science: Louis Pasteur
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