1880—1882 



95 



looks to the complete satisfaction of Pasteur's adversaries. 

 They were looking forward to the last and most virulent 

 inoculation. 



Pasteur, assisted not only by Messrs. Chamberland and 

 Roux, but also by a third pupil of the name of Thuillier, pro- 

 ceeded to the arrangement of the subjects. At the last 

 moment, two goats were substituted for two of the sheep. 



Vaccination candidates and unvaccinated test sheep were 

 divided under a large shed. For the injection of the vaccinal 

 liquid, Pravaz's little syringe was used; those who have 

 experienced morphia injections know how easily the needle 

 penetrates the subcutaneous tissues. Each of the twenty-five 

 sheep received, on the inner surface of the right thigh" five 

 drops of the bacteridian culture which Pasteur called the' first 

 vaccine. Five cows and one ox substituted for the sixth cow 

 were vaccinated in their turn, behind the shoulder. The ox 

 and the cows were marked on the right horn, and the sheep on 

 the ear. 



Pasteur was, after this, asked to give a lecture on splenic 

 fever in the large hall of the Pouilly farm. Then, in clear, 

 simple language, meeting every objection half-way, snowing no 

 astonishment at ignorance or prejudice, knowing perfectly well 

 that many were really hoping for a failure, he methodically 

 described the road already travelled, and pointed to the goal he 

 would reach. For nearly an hour he interested and instructed 

 his mixed audience ; he made them feel the genuineness of his 

 faith, and, besides his interest in the scientific problem, his 

 desire to spare heavy losses to cultivators. After the lecture, 

 some, better informed than others, were admiring the logical 

 harmony of that career, mingling with pure science results of 

 incalculable benefit to the public, an extraordinary alliance 

 which gave a special moral physiognomy to this man of pro- 

 digious labours. 



An appointment was made for the second inoculation In 

 the interval-on May 6, 7, 8 and 9-Messrs. Chamberland and 

 Roux came to Pouilly le Fort to take the temperature of the 

 vaccinated animals, and found nothing abnormal. On May 17 

 a second inoculation was made with a liquid which, though still 

 attenuated, was more virulent than the first. If that°liquid 

 had been inoculated to begin with it would have caused a mor- 

 tality of 50 per 100. 



'On Tuesday, May 31," wrote Pasteur to his son-in-law, 



