ALS in Laboratoire de Chimie Physiologique, signed “L. Pasteur,” one page, 5.25 x 8, July 3, 1881. Handwritten letter reacting to an article published in June 1881 in the newspaper 'L'Evenement,' in which Pasteur was described as a very gentle man who 'shows kindness to all his young fellow countrymen.' In full (translated): "I have been deeply touched by the very kind article you have written on me in the 'Evenement' newspaper. The illness of a friend and dear colleague, a thousand concerns that have fallen on me after my works on anthrax have prevented me from thanking you earlier. I have asked my son to tell you that I would not always forget it and that at the first minute of liberty I will consider myself as your devoted fellow countryman." In fine condition.
Pasteur began investigating anthrax in 1879, after an epidemic swept through France and killed large amounts of livestock. Pasteur claimed credit for the first vaccination against anthrax and in 1881 conducted an experiment in immunization after obtaining financial support by many of the farmers whose livelihoods were at stake. He separated dozens of animals into two groups, inoculating one group with an anthrax vaccination he prepared while leaving the other group untouched. After 30 days, he injected all of the animals with a culture of live anthrax bacteria. All the animals in the non-vaccinated group died, while all of the animals in the vaccinated group survived. The large scale and impressive results of the experiment resulted in widespread public sensation.
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