“Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world. Science is the highest personification of the nation because that nation will remain the first which carries the furthest the works of thought and intelligence. ”
-Louis Pasteur
Throughout the centuries, science has aided in the capabilities and advancements of medicine on health. From accidental discoveries to tireless life-consuming pursuits great achievements in science have been reached by various means. Due to humanity’s advancements in the field of ecology, benchmarks in understanding organisms and their environment have propelled discoveries beyond the scope of orthodox human beliefs. Behavioral studies of microscopic organisms have in turn helped in the development of antibiotics, anesthetics, vaccines, and even cures. Each and every advance brought the ability to save lives among the sick and injured. One of the most important innovators within this field was Louis Pasteur, regarded by many as the father of microbiology.
Louis Pasteur was born on December 27, 1822 in Dole, France. Pasteur grew up in the town of Arbois which later became the location of him home and laboratory. The son of a leatherworker, Pasteur’s strength and thirst for knowledge lead him to break away from a humble background to pursue a career that would ultimately bring breakthrough innovations to the scientific community and assure the livelihood of the sick and dying of his time.
Some of Pasteur’s more famous contributions to the field of microbiology were his experiments in germ theory. Expanding upon the notion of microscopic organisms being invisible and ever-present in the world around us, Pasteur conducted experiments which affirmed the existence of microorganisms by showing their role in the process of fermentation. Prior to his discoveries, the theory of “spontaneous generation” was struggling to maintain itself among a barrage of contradictory scientific advancements. The theory in question was regarded as “common knowledge” in the scientific world and stated that organisms such as mice or fleas came from mud, dust, and unpreserved meat. In his experiments, Pasteur isolated a broth within a sterile environment. Next, he vented the isolated sample with oxygen tubes and a crude filtration system. His results showed that the ventilation process prevented negative effects on the sample because the air circulating around it did not carry dust. Pasteur found that the fermentation did not spontaneously occur in the broth, but rather, was carried there by a host. His theory ultimately concluded that microscopic spores on dust particles cause the fermentation process. His finding was one of, if not the final, discovery which brought about the death of the theory.
Upon the success of his findings, Pasteur began a series of experiments expanding on the processes of microorganisms involved in fermentation. By conducting experiments monitoring their activity, he found that only certain bacteria cause contamination in substances. Pasteur faced a dilemma in that by eradicating bad microbes he would be destroying essential ones, a problem if the substance is a food or liquid. Through a controlled method of heating beverages, Pasteur brought about a radical means of reducing sicknesses associated with contaminated wines and milk. This process has been used throughout the past century and is known today as “pasteurization”.
In conclusion, Louis Pasteur’s impact on the field of science and health has greatly affected standards of the healthcare and medicine we receive today. By studying diseases and illness on a microscopic level, Pasteur discovered the dangerous correlation between environment and organisms. This seemingly insignificant area of ecology brought about answers to many unknowns as well as eradicated many common beliefs of the era.
