Page 63 - Ethel D. Hume - Bešam ili Paster: Izgubljeno poglavlje u istoriji biologije

6o BfiCHAMP OR PASTEUR?
way repudiates Bechamp's claim to priority in clearly
explaining fermentation; indeed, it seems to have been
inspired by the Professor's observations, for we find that
Pasteur here omitted to use yeast broth as his medium, and
ascribed the origin of lactic yeast to the atmospheric air.
According to his own details, 1 he mixed with pure
sugared water a small quantity of salt of ammonia,
phosphates and precipitated carbonate of lime, and
actually expressed surprise that animal and vegetable
matter should have appeared in such an environment.
There could hardly be a greater contrast to Bechamp's
rigorous deductions, while an extraordinary ambiguity
—
follows in the conclusions. We read: "As to the origin of
the lactic yeast in these experiments, it is solely due to the
atmospheric air: we fall back here upon facts of spontan-
eous generation." After asserting that by suppressing all
contact with ordinary air, or by boiling the solution, the
formation of organisms and fermentation are quite
—
prevented, he winds up: "On this point the question of
spontaneous generation has made progress." If he here
meant that the question had progressed towards the denial
of the belief, why was it that he did not say so?
In a subsequent Memoir published in the Annales de
2
Chimie et de Physique in April, i860, he constantly refers to
the spontaneous production of yeasts and fermentations.
Anyone really aware of the atmospheric origin of micro-
organisms of the nature of yeast would, undoubtedly, have
steered clear of phraseology that, at that particular epoch,
conveyed such a diametrically opposite signification.
The many experiments detailed in this latter Memoir
were only commenced on the 10th December, 1858,
whereas Bechamp first presented his Beacon Experiment
to the Academy of Science in December, 1857, and its full
publication appeared in September, 1858, three months
before Pasteur started his fresh observations. He was, un-
doubtedly, inspired by Bechamp in this new work for
1
Comptes Rendus 48, p. 337.
2
3e sfrie, 57-58, pp. 323 to 426 inclusive, esp. from pp. 283 to 392.