92 PASTEUR 



produced in its entirety. It was addressed to 

 Napoleon III. 



"Sire," wrote Pasteur, "my researches in re- 

 gard to fermentations and the role played by 

 microscopic organisms have opened up to 

 physiological chemistry new avenues of which 

 the agricultural industries and the study of 

 medicine have already begun to reap the fruit. 

 But the field which remains to be traversed is 

 immense. My greatest desire would be to ex- 

 plore this field with renewed ardour, without be- 

 ing hampered by the insufficiency of material 

 means. 



"Since it involves seeking, by a patient and 

 scientific study of putrefaction, for certain prin- 

 ciples capable of guiding us to a discovery of 

 the causes of putrid or contagious diseases, I 

 should like to be installed in some building 

 where the laboratory and its various dependen- 

 cies would afford enough space to carry on the 

 experiments comfortably and without danger 

 to health. 



"But how can researches be conducted in re- 



