Appendix. 26 j 



had been the principal cause of the controversy, Pouchet with- 

 drew tVom the contest.* The Commission, however, continued 

 its investigations, and in February of the next year they reported 

 that the facts which were observed by M. Pasteur and contested 

 by MiM. Pouchet, Joly and Musset were of the most perfect ex- 

 actitude.** 



One point only needs now to be settled in order to complete 

 the chain of evidence and render demonstration complete. For- 

 tunately this was done before the rendition of the report. That 

 is to collect and identify the germs from the atmosphere, and 

 to propagate them, for it will be remembered that with a com- 

 mendable prudence Pasteur had only stated his opinions as to 

 the corpuscles and spores, which he had gathered in the manner 

 already described. The heterogenists with force and with reason 

 said, if such organic bodies are floating in the atmosphere, it is 

 only fair that our opponents should show them to us. This was 

 accomplished by Dr. Lemaire and Prof. Gratiolet in 1864. They 

 condensed the moisture of the atmosphere in a wide open vessel, 



* " It is, perhaps, unfortunate," says Jules Jamin, " that the Commission 

 held so stringently to the programme as to let slip the unique opportunity or 

 a solution which was expected from it. But it is evidently clear that the 

 heterogenists, however they may have colored their retreat, were self-con- 

 demned. If they had been sure of the fact, wliich they had solemnly under- 

 taken to prove under penalty of acknowledgment of defeat, they would have 

 persisted in proving it, for it would have Ijeen the triumph of tlieir doctrine. 

 It is doubtful causes only that are allowed to go by default."— ii«r«e des deiir 

 Mondes, Vol. LIV, p. 438. 



** En resume, Icti faits observees par M. Pasteur et contestes par MM 

 Pouchet, Joly et INIusset, sont de la plus parfaite exactitude. Des liquers fer- 

 m^entescibles peuvent rester, soit au contact de Fair confine, soit au contact 

 de Fair souvent renouvele, sans s'alterer, et quaud sous I'influence de co 

 fluide il s'y developpe des organisraes vivants, ce n'est pas a ses elements 

 gaseux quil faut attribuer ce developpment mais a des particules solides dont 

 on peut depouiller par les moyens divers, ainsi que M. Pasteuf I'avait affirme. 

 Comptes Kendiis, vol. Ix, p. 39fi. 



Running through the Comptes R-'ndus from the year lsr)S to l.S().'), the reader 

 will flud all the facts and reports upon this remarkable controversy, which, 

 as Dr. Dalton remarks, may almost be said to have kept the Academy in a 

 turmoil for sonie six or seven years, and which at times was so conducted as 

 to provoke considerable bad feeling. 



A good sketch also of Pasteur's experiments may be found in Schiitzen- 

 berger on Fermentations, Vol. xx, of the Intel-national Scientific Series, 

 published by D. Appleton & Co., New York. 



