FOR THE NATIONAL WEALTH 83 



stration Pasteur had needed some live frogs, 

 which he had obtained from the head gardener 

 of the parks at Compiegne. When the experi- 

 ment was ended the absent-minded scientist 

 left the frogs behind him, imprisoned in an in- 

 secure bag. They invaded the bed chamber 

 of the Empress, and the latter, arising during 

 the night, set her foot upon a cold and slimy 

 frog. She experienced a terrible fright and 

 very nearly fainted. Afterwards she laughed at 

 her own fear, but, although she bore no grudge 

 against Pasteur, she could never again bear 

 even the sight of the poor, inoffensive frog! 



In 1867 Pasteur received from the jury of the 

 Exposition Universelle a grand prize for his 

 services in behalf of wines. But even before 

 these researches were fully completed he had 

 prepared to undertake a new series of studies 

 that were destined to enhance his fame still 

 further. 



For fifteen years a veritable scourge had rav- 

 aged the departments of southern France. The 

 industry of rearing silk-worms, formerly so 



