THE DARK DAYS OF THE WAR 147 



to Gernez, to Van Tieghem, etc.. Come! we shall 

 transform the world by our discoveries. How for- 

 tunate you are to be young and full of vigor. Oh, 

 that I might begin a new life of study and work. 

 Poor France, dear country, what would I not do to 

 relieve your distress!" 



Near by at Chamalieres there was a brewery 

 which Pasteur began to visit, interesting himself in 

 all the details of brewing beer and the reasons for 

 the various procedures followed in this industry. 

 Here he was brought into contact with the many 

 difficulties encountered in beer making. Germany 

 had hitherto excelled in the manufacture of beer, 

 and Pasteur conceived the idea of perfecting the 

 brewing industries of his own country so that 

 France would no longer pay tribute to her enemy 

 by importing German beers. Why should not 

 France produce as good beers as Germany! If 

 Pasteur could not perform military duty he could 

 at least aid his country in the field of industrial 

 rivalry. Beers, like wines, suffered from several 

 diseases. Some beers became sour, others ropy, and 

 others putrid. As in the case of wines, Pasteur 

 showed that these diseases were accompanied by 

 characteristic foreign micro-organisms. Through 

 the selection of pure yeasts, which could be tested 



