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DISEASES OF SILK-WORMS 105

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Academy described experiments that proved the vibrant
corpuscle to be an organised ferment.
Later, on the 4th February of the following year, 1867, a
2
fresh Memoir, sent to the Academy, detailed more experi-
ments that not only showed the corpuscle to be a ferment,
but also that after the inversion of sugar, fermentation
went on, producing alcohol, acetic acid, and another
non-volatile acid.
In January, 1867, Pasteur, who had been away, returned
to Alais, apparently at last enlightened by Professor
Bechamp's explanations. In a letter to M. Duruy, the
Minister of Public Instruction, he seems to have started
to take to himself credit for solving the mystery of the silk-
worm trouble. This would account for the almost
pathetic plea put forward by Bechamp for a recognition
of his outstanding priority in providing a correct scientific
explanation.
The latter now, on the 29th April, 1867, provided the
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Academy of Science with an even fuller account, in which
he stated his opinion that the vibrant corpuscle was a
spore, and demonstrated that it multiplied in an infusion
of dead worms, chrysalides and moths, and that creosote
diminished this multiplication. He added to this Note a
plate of designs of the microscopic examination of this
reproduction of corpuscles. "Thus," he said, "is completed
the parasitic theory of pebrine for the triumph of which I
have struggled for nearly two years. I venture to hope that
the priority of the idea and of the experiments that have
demonstrated it will not be disputed." He showed that up
to the previous August he had been alone in holding his
opinion, with the exception of M. Le Ricque de Monchy,
to whom he expressed gratitude for his encouragement
and able assistance.
Alas for Bechamp! Pasteur was unhappily devoid of a
similar habit of rendering due honour. Convinced against
1
Comptes Rendus 63, p. 391.
2
C.R. 64, p. 231.
3
C. R. 64, p. 873.