Great Thinkers

» Georgene A. Bramlage - Pasteur, etc.

I'm back again

This time the ancient biology teacher in me wants to
point out a few items about Louis Pasteur and the time in which he worked.

The late 18th and early 19th century saw many scientific developments which led to improvements in the ways in which we live today. It was a fertile, exciting time for science...no TV, etc. scientistds talked to each other

Sometimes difficult to keep the names of the players and their contributions straight because so much was happening. But here's a little synopsis:

***small pox caused by variola virus; vaccine developed by Edward Jenner in early 19th century.
***chicken pox caused by the varicella-zoster virus; part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses; vaccine for chickenpox became available in the United States in 1995.

"The term vaccination originally referred to immunization against smallpox because the procedure originated when English physician Edward Jenner (1749-1823) discovered that milkmaids who had contracted the mild disease cowpox (vaccinia) were immune to smallpox. The development of a cowpox vaccine against smallpox has led to the production of vaccines against a wide range of diseases."

"Mid-nineteenth century, French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) developed his germ theory. The theory held that specific microorganisms cause specific diseases. He is responsible for pasteurization (not to be confused with homogenization)...Pasteur also...
1 - developed a method to protect animals against anthrax by injecting the animals with anthrax bacilli that had been severely weakened by a special treatment;
2 - developed a method for preventing rabies in persons bitten by rabid animals; and
3 - assistants and colleagues at Pasteur Institute went on to develop other vaccines including diptheria.

So...please make me happy and change the inaccuracy for Pasteur in the scientific thinker poll

Thanks and Cheers!

G.