86 THE PLACE OF SCIENCE IN 



a method which had been used in connexion with small-pox, 

 but which now was made available for another serious trouble 

 affecting the animal kingdom. These discoveries of Pasteur's, 

 demonstrated as they were by the most carefully collected 

 evidence, did not convince the medical people of his own 

 country. There is deep conservatism in almost all minds 

 and especially in certain intellectual minds, and this con- 

 servatism was extremely evident in the medical profession 

 of France. Pasteur's theories were doubted. His experi- 

 mental results were questioned, and eventually in order to 

 put matters to test a great public trial was arranged and 

 carried out in regard to the disease anthrax, that I have 

 already spoken of as affecting the sheep. This particular 

 trial marks one of the most important epochs in the 

 history of medicine. Sixty sheep were placed at the disposal 

 of Pasteur for trial. Ten of these were put aside and nothing 

 was done to them. Of the remaining fifty, twenty-five were 

 treated with the preventive inoculation ; twenty-five were not 

 so treated. Then the whole fifty, inoculated and non -inocu- 

 lated, were given a dose of active disease germ. Time was 

 allowed to lapse, and then, spectators having gathered from 

 all parts of France, the herds of sheep were examined, and 

 when the appointed day had expired the twenty-five inoculated 

 were in excellent health and the twenty-five non-inoculated 

 were all dead. I cannot go on giving a complete story of 

 P.asteur's life. I merely wish to give an idea of the method 

 by which he was led to attack and solve the problems that 

 lay in front of him in relation to the great pressing needs 

 of humanity in France. These investigations were inter- 

 rupted for a period by Pasteur's being called away to render 

 service in combating another disease affecting silkworms 

 which was threatening to ruin one of the greatest industries 

 of France. The silk industry of France is worth many 

 millions. It was threatened by a peculiar disease which 



