Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-06
CNew York Tribune.)

The giants Of science are falling in
swift succession Tyndall Helmholtz.
Huxley. and now Pasteur. There were
not four greater scientists In their gene
ration In all the world. To say their
death is an irreparable loss is trite
and obvious comment. In measure. IL
true: but not In widest measure. Such
nen are missed. though chiefly by
lew But their works abide as lasting
,enefactions 20 myrlads TO whom they
themselves were but names; 10 myriads,
moreover. who are quite unconscious OF
2hose work II is that profits them. While
Is loss TO the world 10 have them
3le IL Is an immense gain to have had
them live. Especially is this true in
the case Of Louis Pasteur His per-
sonality filed but small place in the
world He was known TO few. He
sought no notOrlety. He did not even
seek 10 pOpularlze his work and his ca
l,tr There was scarcely a man Of his
time OF anything like comparable rank
Who was not personally far better known
than he. His three compeers. whom we
have mentioned. were familiar 10 the
general public through their lectures and
their miscellaneous writings. They were
emghatically "popularizers" of science.
But he whose work was done for the
general benefit of mankind. even more
than theirs-even more, IL possible. than
H-.mholjz's-remained in the seclusion
o. his laboratory unseen. unheard, and.
save through his achievements, un-
known.
What the result of his life or OF his
Nfrwork means 10 mankind Is, however,
something more than ordinary language
can express We may leave out of the
reckoning his vast contributions to pure
"A n 10 ina fr1nQ fal a
the Industrial world. They are enough
10 assure him endless fame. But, on
The single ground OF his achievements
Tor The science Of health and healing, we
may sstely predicate for him a place
second % that Of no man Of the century.
Indeed only two or three, such as the
clscovef-fs OF anaesthetic and aseptic
possibilities. are 10 be ranked WITH
Or near him The full scope of his
Rork is scarcely to be comprehended.
W. may. however, form some estimate
. u hy taking into consideration the
Whole subject Of germ disease. OF bac-
iera microbes. bacilli, of the numer-
tts rf--llt!Ons now taken for the de-
'ul-tpu OF morbiic germs and conse-
2l-if prevention Of the spreading OF
disease u the various 'bacilli cultures"
a'1 Other means of combating deadly dis
Ease, within the human frame. 1t is
'hite'y within bounds 10 say that the
f.im theory" Is the most important
''"ili~ OF modern medical science. We
'"e al. That. and all that may Ia future
some ~ b.. 10 Louis Pasteur.
I' was he who established, in the face
I" 'ta scorn and incredulity OF the scien-
Nir ria the facts that fermentation OF
ftnic matter and various diseases OF
"Hns bodies are caused by the presence
en- action Of specific living germs; that
t3.e rms are produced. end are pro-
e' on.y, by other Ike germs; that all
"Ir must proceed from pre-existent life,
an mat spontaneous generation is
Nlit. and that consequently. IL we can
o's'r 3 The germs of a disease, We shall
'l'e 'he disease, and II We can exclude
St' germs We shall prevent the disease.
W. need not consider now the vast sig
hifshce Of these discoveries In relation
: abstract biology. To that ample wit
ness has been borne and by no one more
GENEROUSLY ard Justly than by Thomas
hoN.ey But wherever men seek safety
% mocula,ion against diphtheria, or hy-
t''ih9b a or cholera, or other diseases.
az thousands have done with happiest
results. and wherever medical science
Nesta successful war against the death
p.4acns anlmalcules OF tuberculosis. or
any cher contagious or infectious plague;
a'3 wherever the need OF freeing air ana
waller from noxous bacteria Is recognized
ana acted upon. there Will Pasteur stili
hYng and working for the pract'cal
psttai - the human race. We SHAH 90
vel 90 keep in mind his saying: 1T is
~ We power Of man 20 cause all para
Nnc mslaties 90 disappear from the
word That n his best epitaph; and II
"t D, shan be fully realized the credit
vii b. his