34 PASTEUR 



equal weight of each kind of these crystals, the 

 mixed solution was neutral in its effect on polar- 

 ised light, through the neutralisation of the two 

 individual deflections 'that were equal and in 

 opposite directions." (Researches in Molecular 

 Dissymmetry. Lecture delivered before the 

 Societe Chimique de Paris, 1869, p. 29.) 



In the presence of this confirmation, which 

 fulfilled his highest hopes, Pasteur was seized 

 with such emotion that he was forced to leave 

 his library on a run, and flung his arms around 

 the first of his colleagues whom he met, in his 

 keen joy over this essential discovery. He 

 broke the news to Biot, who for long years had 

 been studying the rotary power of crystals, by 

 notifying him that he was ready to communi- 

 cate the results of his experiments. The aged 

 scientist and member of the Institute accepted 

 his young colleague's offer, and the scene which 

 took place between them was one of real 

 beauty. It has been admirably recorded by M. 

 Vallery-Radot : 



"The meeting took place at the College de 



