18651870 147 



sented to Napoleon, through the medium of his enlightened 

 aide de camp, General Pave*, the following letter, a most in- 

 teresting one, for, in it, possibilities of future discoveries are 

 hinted at, which later became accomplished facts. 



" Sire, My researches on fermentations and on microscopic 

 organisms have opened to physiological chemistry new roads, 

 the benefit of which is beginning to be felt both by agricul- 

 tural industries and by medical studies. But the field still to 

 be explored is immense. My great desire would be to explore 

 it with a new ardour, unrestrained by the insufficiency of 

 material means. 



' ' I should wish to have a spacious laboratory , with one or 

 two outhouses attached to it, which I could make use of when 

 making experiments possibly injurious to health, such as might 

 be the scientific study of putrid and infectious diseases. 



"How can researches be attempted on gangrene, virus or 

 inoculations, without a building suitable for the housing of 

 animals, either dead or alive? Butchers' meat in Europe 

 reaches an exorbitant price, in Buenos Ayres it is given away. 

 How, in a small and incomplete laboratory, can experiments 

 be made, and various processes tested, which would facilitate 

 its transport and preservation? The so-called 'splenic fever' 

 costs the Beauce 1 about 4,000,000 francs annually ; it would be 

 indispensable to go and spend some weeks in the neighbour- 

 hood of Chartres during several consecutive summers, and make 

 minute observations. 



" These researches and a thousand others which correspond 

 in my mind to the great act of transformation after death of 

 organic matter, and the compulsory return to the ground and 

 atmosphere of all which has once been living, are only com- 

 patible with the installation of a great laboratory. The time 

 has now come when experimental science should be freed from 

 its bonds . . ." 



The Emperor wrote to Duruy the very next day, desiring 

 that Pasteur's wish should be acceded to. Duruy gladly 

 acquiesced and plans began to be drawn out. Pasteur, who 

 scarcely dared believe in these bright hopes, was consulted 

 about the situation, size, etc., of the future building, and 



1 Ancient name of the high flat ground surrounding Chartres and 

 including parts of the Departments of Eure et Loir, Loir et Cher, Loiret 

 and Seine et Oise. These plains are very fertile, the soil being ex- 

 tremely rich, and produce cereals chiefly. [Trans.] 



L 2 



