Lesson No. 14 - Louis Pasteur

LOUIS PASTEUR

1.         Describe the early life of Pasteur.

Ans:    Pasteur was born in the at Dole in Jura district of France in 1822. His father was a brave soldier.Pasteur started his education at Communal College. Then he went to Besancon. He also studied at great EcoleNormale in Paris.At 26 in 1848 Pasteur  became Deputy professor of Chemistry  at the University of Strasburg where he married the daughter of the rector.

 2.        Give some instances of Pasteur’s patriotism.

          Ans:    Pasteur was a true patriot. During hard times of national crisis, he enrolled himself in the National Guard. He donated all his savings to serve the national cause. He also volunteered himself to join French forces in the war against the Germans.

3.         What do we mean by spontaneous generation?

Ans:    Spontaneous generation relates to the development of living organisms. Some scientists believed that some organisms keep on developing spontaneously without any parents. In contrary to it some other believed that it was not a fact that bacteria or other organisms could develop on their own without any begetters.

4.         How did Pasteur prove that spontaneous generation was not a fact?

Ans    Pasteur did a series of experiments to prove that spontaneous generation was not a fact. He did so by boiling the substance on which experiment was made at 10°C higher than the boiling point and made the air in contact free of germs.

5.         Describe the importance and popularity of the silkworm industry in France. What help did Pasteur render in the silkworm disease in his country?

Ans    Keeping of silkworm was one of the major home industries in France. Numerous families were living on this industry. A silkworm disease had affected this industry drastically. Pasteur was asked for help. He, after a keen observation, suggested that people should avoid over-crowding of the worms. He advised them to collect eggs separately from worms so that the disease could be avoided.

6.         How did Pasteur discover the treatment for the cattle disease, anthrax?

Ans   Pasteur cultivated the anthrax germ in such a way that it became mildly poisonous. Then he inoculated these weakened germs into suffering animal’s blood. He found that the animal aft first showed some signs of anthrax, but then did not suffer from it (anthrax). It protected the animal from the deadly attack of the disease.

7.         How did Pasteur discover the method of making vaccines?

Ans    Pasteur cultivated the germ in such a way that it became mildly poisonous. Then he inoculated these weakened germs into suffering animal’s blood. It protected the animal from the deadly attack of the disease. This process is known as vaccination.

8.         Give an account of Pasteur’s treatment of Hydrophobia and how he cured the first patient suffering from it.

Ans    Hydrophobia or rabies is a fearful disease produced by the bite of a mad dog. Pasteur made vaccine for hydrophobia with the help of spinal cord of rabid rabbits. He treated his first ever patient, Joseph Meister, with this vaccine. Pasteur was anxious about results but these were very happily positive.

9.         How did Pasteur show the way to other scientists? Give an account of the discoveries.

Ans    Pasteur brought to light the reality of diseases. He discovered germs which cause diseases. From his works, other scientists were stimulated and countless discoveries were made. More important thing was that people became more critical in their thinking. They stopped acting upon superstitious beliefs.