1865—1870 133 



silkworm growing departments. Pasteur, in the meanwhile, 

 was stating the results he had arrived at, and they were being 

 much criticized. In order to avoid the pebrine, which was 

 indeed the disease caused by the corpuscles so clearly visible 

 through the microscope, he averred that no seed should be 

 used that came from infected moths. In order to demonstrate 

 the infectious character of the pebrine he would give to some 

 worms meals of leaves previously contaminated by means of a 

 brush dipped in water containing corpuscles. The worms 

 absorbed the food, and the disease immediately appeared and 

 could be found in the chrysalides and moths from those worms. 



" I hope I am in the right road — close to the goal, perhaps, 

 but I have not yet reached it," wrote Pasteur to his faithful 

 Chappuis ; " and as long as the final proof is not acquired com- 

 plications and errors are to be feared. Next year, the growth 

 of the numerous eggs I have prepared will obviate my scruples, 

 and I shall be sure of the value of the preventive means I have 

 indicated. It is tiresome to have to wait a year before testing 

 observations already made; but I have every hope of success." 



While awaiting the renewal of the silkworm season, he was 

 busy editing his book on wine, full of joy at contributing to 

 the national riches through practical application of his observa- 

 tions. It was, in fact, sufficient to heat the wines by the 

 simple process already at that time known in Austria as 

 pasteurisation, to free them from all germs of disease and make 

 them suitable for keeping and for exportation. He did not 

 accord much attention to the talk of old gourmets who affirmed 

 that wines thus "mummified" could not mellow with age, 

 being convinced on the contrary that the most delicate wines 

 could only be improved by heating. ' The ageing of wines," 

 he said, " is due, not to fermentation, but to a slow oxidation 

 which is favoured by heat." 



He alluded in his book to the interest taken by Napoleon III 

 m those researches which might be worth millions to Prance. 

 He also related how the Imperial solicitude had been awakened, 

 ind acknowledged gratitude for this to General Fave, one of 

 ;he Emperor's aides de camp. 



The General, on reading the proofs, declared that his name 

 nust disappear. Pasteur regretfully gave in to his scruples, 

 )ut wrote the following words on the copy presented to General 

 ^ave : "General, this book contains a serious omission — that 

 j>f your name : it would be an unpardonable one had it not been 



