Accomplishments Of Louis Pasteur

Today, Louis Pasteur’s name has become almost synonymous with germ theory, vaccination, and immunology. His accomplishments include not just disease management, but include also the saving of certain business and national economies. For example, one of Pasteur’s first successes was in identifying the nature of fermentation, and showing the importance of yeast as a catalyst. Because of his work, distilleries in Lille, France were able to produce wine more regularly once Pasteur had discovered the basics behind fermentation process. Also, when a later disease was afflicting silk worms, his discoveries and treatment of the worms reinvigorated the silk industry, not just in France, but in many silk producing nations.1

Today, Louis Pasteur is widely credited, and rightly so, with the discoveries which led to successfully treating many diseases. Many revere him as a hero in helping businesses, countries, and especially for his work in saving lives. However, his credibility as a scientist has been brought under intense scrutiny. …show more content…
Geison, The Private Science of Louis Pasteur, 1995, portrays the scientist as an egotistical showman, and at one point a fraud. The allegations leveled at Pasteur include using discoveries made by others and passing them off as his own, falsely reporting his efforts, and withholding information critical of his theories. …show more content…
Yet, at least among a few, the controversy continues. From his earlier detractors, such as Robert Koch, a well-known 19th century physician who was a scientific pioneer in his own right, to Gerald L. Geison, a modern researcher and author. While I am among those who celebrate the achievements of Louis Pasteur, I learned somewhat of his character and scientific