160 LOUIS PASTEUR 



prove their case. He had much prejudice to over- 

 come, but he drew about him a following, espe- 

 cially among the younger men, who perceived the 

 great value of his discoveries and were anxious to 

 apply the newer knowledge to the healing art. 



In 1874 the National Assembly rewarded Pas- 

 teur's services by an annual grant of 12,000 

 francs. Paul Bert, a prominent scientist who was 

 a member of the National Assembly (for the 

 French, unlike ourselves, sometimes honor scientific 

 men with political office), said, in presenting the 

 recommendation of the Commission, "Pasteur's dis- 

 coveries, gentlemen, after having thrown new light 

 on the obscure question of fermentation and the 

 mode of appearance of microscopic organisms, have 

 revolutionized certain branches of industry, of agri- 

 culture, and of pathology. One is struck with ad- 

 miration on witnessing so many important results 

 proceeding, by a chain of facts, followed step by 

 step, in which nothing is left to hypothesis, from 

 theoretical studies on the manner in which tartaric 

 acid turns the polarized ray. Never has the famous 

 saying, 'Genius consists in taking pains,' received 

 a more striking confirmation. 



"It is this admirable collection of theoretical and 

 practical achievements which the Government pro- 



