Appendix. 167 



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

 drew from 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 MM. Pouchet, July 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 01 

 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, which they had solemnly under- 

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

 persisted in proving it, for it would have been the triumph of their doctrine. 

 It is doubtful causes only that are allowed to go by default." Revue des deux 

 Mondes, Vol. LIV, p. m 



** En resume, les faits observers par M. Pasteur et contestes par MM. 

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

 mentescibles peuvent rester, soit au contact de 1'air confine, soit au contact 

 de 1'air sou vent renouvele, sans s'alterer, et'quand sous 1'influence de ce 

 fluide il s'y de" veloppe des organismes 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. Pasteur 1'avait affirme. 

 Oomptes Rendus, vol. Ix, p. 396. 



Running through the Compt.es Rsndm from the year 1858 to 186o, the reader 

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

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

 turmoil for some 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 Schfitzen- 

 berger on Fermentations, Vol. xx, of the International Scientific Series, 

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



