A boy bitten by a rabid dog
On July 4, 1885, in Alsace, Joseph Meister, aged 9 was on his way to school when a dog pounced on him and bit him several times. The dog probably had rabies. A deadly and terrible disease, which drives you mad before it kills you. This doctor, who treats the child, knows well the work of the docteur Pasteur already famous and who has worked on several vaccines. He has recently been experimenting with a vaccine against rabies, not yet successful.
And a vaccine never before used on humans
A few days later, the boy is received by Monsieur Pasteur, who has developed a vaccine that fights rabies after the bite, but it has never been tested on humans. Vaccinated all the same, Joseph Meister becomes the first human to be saved from rabies. The good news hits the headlines. A subscription is launched to help finance further work, it will lead to the creation of the Institut Pasteur. Joseph Meister will continue his life and never leave his benefactor for long, in the position of guardian of the Institut Pasteur.
Pasteur's name is everywhere in France;
Died in 1895, Louis Pasteur gave his name to a crater on the Moon and on Mars. 361 schools and 2020 arteries bear the name of this scientist who changed the face of the world and helped eradicate many diseases.
Continuing the work of Monsieur Pasteur
In France, the Institut Pasteur continues the scientific work of Louis Pasteur. Created by public subscription in 1888 after the success of the rabies vaccine, the Institut Pasteur has been responsible for major scientific and medical discoveries such as the discovery of H.I.V. (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and action to combat diphtheria, yellow fever and the plague. Since 1908, 10 Nobel Prizes in Medicine have been awarded to doctors who worked at the Institut Pasteur;
You can help the Institut Pasteur by donating here.
In the footsteps of Louis Pasteur
To follow in Louis PASTEUR's footsteps, you can visit Dole in the Jura region of Franche-Comté. Here you can discover the house where he was born, and which he insisted on keeping into adulthood. It is located quai des tanneurs. It is open to the public;
FAQ
Who was Louis Pasteur?
Louis Pasteur was a French scientist of the XIXᵉ century famous for his work on microbes, pasteurization and vaccination, notably against rabies.
What vaccine did Louis Pasteur develop?
He developed a post-exposure rabies vaccine, first tested on Joseph Meister in 1885.
What role did Joseph Meister play in the story of Louis Pasteur?
Joseph Meister, a child bitten by a rabid dog, was the first human being to be vaccinated with Pasteur's life-saving treatment.
When was the Institut Pasteur founded?
The Institut Pasteur was founded in 1888, a few years after the success of the rabies vaccine, thanks to public subscription in France.
What is Louis Pasteur's legacy in France?
Pasteur's name is everywhere: schools and streets bear his name, and the Institut Pasteur continues to conduct research into diseases such as HIV, diphtheria and the plague.
