CHAPTER XVI 



SCIENCE AND WAR- -PASTEUR, LISTER 



IN the history of science war is no mere interruption, 

 but a great stimulating influence, promoting directly 

 or indirectly the liberties of the people, calling into 

 play the energy of artisan and manufacturer, and in- 

 creasing the demand for useful and practical studies. 

 In the activities of naval and military equipment and 

 organization this influence is obvious enough; it is 

 no less real in the reaction from war which impels 

 all to turn with new zest to the arts and industries 

 of peace and to cherish whatever may tend to culture 

 and civil progress. Not infrequently war gives rise, 

 not only to new educational ideals, but to new insti- 

 tutions and to new types of institution favorable 

 to the advancement of science. As we have already 

 seen, the Royal Society and Milton's Academies owed 

 their origin to the Great Rebellion. Similarly the 

 Ecole Polytechnique, mother of many scientific dis- 

 coveries, rose in answer to the needs of the French 

 Revolution. No less noteworthy was the reconstruction 

 of education under the practical genius of Napoleon 

 I, the division of France into academies, the found- 

 ing of the lycees, the reestablishment of the great 

 Ecole Normale, and the organization of the Imperial 

 University with new science courses and new pro- 

 vincial Faculties at Rennes, Lille, and elsewhere. 

 With all these different forms in which the influence 

 of war makes itself felt in the progress of science 



