1880—1882 329 



latter were already dead, most of the others were prostrated. 

 The vaccinated sheep were perfectly well. 



"While the ten dead sheep were being examined, two more 

 died, and three more on the 19th. Bouley, informed by the 

 veterinary surgeon, Boiitet, of those successive incidents, wrote 

 on the 20th to Pasteur: **My dear Master, Boutet has just 

 informed me of the Chartres event. All has been accomplished 

 according to the master's words; your vaccinated sheep have 

 triumphantly come through the trial, and all the others save 

 one are dead. That result is of special importance in a 

 countrj^-side where incredulity was being maintained in spite 

 of all the demonstrations made. It seems that the doctors 

 especially were refractory. They said it was too good to be 

 true, and they counted on the strength of the natural charbon 

 to find your method in default. Now they are converted, 

 Boutet writes, and the veterinary surgeon too — one amongst 

 others, whose brain, it seems, was absolutely iron-clad — also 

 the agricultors. There is a general Hosannah in your honour.*' 



After congratulating Pasteur on the Grand Cross, he added, 

 "I was also very glad of the reward you have obtained for 

 your two young collaborators, so full of your spirit, so devoted 

 to your work and your person, and whose assistance is so self- 

 sacrificing and disinterested. The Government has honoured 

 itself by so happily crowning with that distinction the great- 

 ness of the discovery in which they took part.'' 



Henceforth, and for a time, systematic opposition ceased. 

 Thousands and thousands of doses were used of the new 

 vaccine, which afterwards saved millions to agriculture. 



A few days later, came a change in Pasteur's surroundings. 

 He was invited by the Organizing Committee to attend the 

 International Medical Congress in London, and desired by the 

 Government of the Republic to represent France. 



On August 3, when he arrived in St. James' Hall, filled to 

 overflowing, from the stalls to the topmost galleries, he was 

 recognized by one of the stewards, who invited him to come to 

 the platform reserv^ed for the most illustrious members of the 

 Congress. As he was going towards the platform, there was 

 an outburst of applause, hurrahs and acclamations. Pasteur 

 tr»rned to his two companions, his son and his son-in-law, and 

 said, with a little uneasiness: *'It is no doubt the Prince of 

 AVales arriving; I ought to have come sooner." 



''But it is you that they are all cheering," said the Presi- 



