Highlights in the History of Microbiology 31 



substance in the atmosphere was not impaired, microbes incUned 

 to generate spontaneously had every opportunity to do so in his 

 open flasks. We know that no growth took place until Pasteur 

 either broke off the neck of his flasks or until he tilted the contents 



Fig. 10. Louis Pasteur (1822-1895). {Courtesy of the Centra! 

 Scientific Company, Chicago, Illinois.) 



into the dust-laden tip. This was conclusive proof that spontane- 

 ous generation was a myth, and the arguments of his opponents 

 had been nullified once and for all. Some of these flasks are still 

 on display at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France, and they re- 

 main bacteria-free to this day. Pasteur was hailed as a hero and 



