154 THE LIFE OF PASTEUR 



purulent infections which formerly brought about the death of 

 so many patients after operations. 



" As a practical consequence of the third discovery. M. 

 Pasteur has <_ r iven rules for, and indeed has effected, the preser- 

 vation of horses, oxen, and sheep from the anthrax disease 

 which every year kills in France about 20,000,000 francs' 

 worth. Swine will also be preserved from the rouget disease 

 which decimates them, and poultry from the cholera which 

 makes such terrible havoc among them. Everything leads us 

 to hope that rabies will also soon be conquered." When Paul 

 Bert was congratulated on his report, he said, "Admiration is 

 such a good, wholesome thing ! ! " 



The Bill was voted by the Chamber, and a fortnight later by 

 the Senate, unanimously. Pasteur heard the first news through 

 the newspapers, for he had just gone to the Jura. On July 

 14, he left Arbois for Dole, where he had promised to be 

 present at a double ceremony. 



/ On that national holiday, a statue of Peace was to be 

 inaugurated, and a memorial plate placed on the house where 

 Pasteur was born ; truly a harmonious association of ideas. 

 The prefect of the Jura evidently felt it when, while unveiling 

 the statue in the presence of Pasteur, he said :• " This is 

 Peace, who has inspired Genius and the great services it has 

 rendered." The official procession, followed by popular accla- 

 mation, went on to the narrow Rue des Tanneurs. When 

 Pasteur, who had not seen his native place since his child- 

 hood, found himself before that tannery, in the low humble 

 rooms of which his father and mother had lived, he felt himself 

 the prey to a strong emotion. 



The mayor quoted these words from the resolutions of the 

 Municipal Council : " M. Pasteur is a benefactor of Humanity, 

 one of the great men of France ; he will remain for all Dolois 

 and in particular those who, like him, have risen from the ranks 

 of the people, an object of reaped as well as an example to 

 follow ; we consider that it is our duty to perpetuate his name 

 in our town." 



The Director of Fine Arts, M. Kaempfen, representing the 



Government at the ceremony, pronounced these simple words : 



' In the name of the Government of the Republic, I salute the 



inscription which commemorates the fact that in this little 



house, in this little street, was born, on December 27, 1822, 



