LOUIS PASTEUR (1822-1895)

By Taylor Alston

BRIEF INTRODUCTION Louis Pasteur was a

French chemist famous for the germ theory that would later be known as pasteurization.

A well known quote by him states, “Chance only favors the mind which is prepared.”

THE GERM THEORY

From research, Pasteur discovered that

alcohol fermentation (the souring of

alcohol) was caused by a production of

lactic acid produced by a contaminant

that he later discovered was found in

the air.

CHALLENGES Some of the challenges Pasteur had to

face were the belief that the occurrence he was trying to explain was a spontaneous chemical process.

This left few people open to innovation.

He, himself was skeptical of what he was implying. This may have affected his confidence in his studies or findings.

CAREER PATH

Although Louis Pasteur was a chemist,

he took on a position as a Professor of

Chemistry and Dean of the Faculty of

Science in Lille, France.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE/MEDICINE

From his discoveries, Louis Pasteur paved the way for other well know scientists such as :

Joseph Lister-First person to implicate Pasteur’s findings medically. Lister concluded that inflammation, pus, and infection following open wounds was caused by organisms in the are and on surrounding surfaces.

Robert Koch- The study Bacteriology was formed and many discoveries of living organisms responsible for various diseases as well as treatment for said diseases followed.

WORKS CITEDStanford University. Louis Pasteur (1822-1895). Lane Library. http://elane.stanford.edu/wilson/html/chap5/chap5-sect6.html. Web. 08-20-13

Enri. “Louis Pasteur”. Photo. Medicine Institute: Medicine Our Life. March 9, 2013. August 20, 2013. http://medicine-institute.com/louis-pasteur-biography/.