Louis Pasteur - Savior of Mankind - Report Example

Louis Pasteur: Savior of Mankind of the Introduction A healthy body is an essential aspect of human life. It not only ensures contentment and happiness in personal lives of people but also contributes in building a strong society. Societies with people who are healthy are usually strong, developing and constructive. Hence, the public health plays a major role in development of strong countries. However, developing and maintaining strong public health is not an easy thing to achieve. History is a witness to the fact that humanity has suffered immense loss of lives, distress and grief due to diseases and epidemics. Epidemics are the major source of human loss as it erupts from the infectious diseases caused due to replication of microbes in human beings (Gostin, 2008, p. 371). The concerning fact is that pathogens which causes diseases can be transmitted not only from person to person but also “from animals or insects to people, and from water or food to people” (Gostin, 2008, p. 371). The various ways of transmission make people completely vulnerable to contracting infections and become ill. Hence, epidemics are a major source of threat to public health. Etiology of the infectious diseases or prevention was not known to societies for most of the history (Gostin, 2008, p. 371). However, things changed rapidly with the introduction of germ theory by a French chemist and microbiologist named Louis Pasteur (1822-1895). By introducing the germ theory and theory of immunization to the world, Louis Pasteur became a savior of humanity. Louis Pasteur’s theories became a cornerstone of public health as they developed the basis for modern bacteriology (Tulchinsky & Varavikova, 2009, p.16). The vaccines created by Pasteur not only saved the lives of people suffering from infectious diseases but also prevented it from spreading and causing epidemic. Hence, it will not be wrong to say that Louis Pasteur was not only a great gift to the world of science but was also a great boon to the whole of humanity. Pasteurization Communicable diseases are always the focus of public health due to its threatening nature (Lundy & Janes, 2009, p. 424). Communicable diseases were the leading causes of illness and deaths in human beings when the public health sector emerged at the end of the nineteenth century (Lundy & Janes, 2009, p. 424). The understanding of the microbial model, or germ theory, of public health, is that it is the microbial infection that causes disease (Gostin, 2008, p. 373). Hence, the public health sector realized that one of its prominent jobs was to identify the pathogens that cause diseases and to eliminate them or stop them from spreading their influence (Gostin, 2008, p. 373). However, as microbes are found not only in humans but also in food and animals, there were many ways in which the infection used to spread to human beings. Hence, in the past, even food was a source of communicable diseases and had capability to cause illness and death through the microbes it carried. However, the brilliance and hard work of Louis Pasteur provided a solution to this problem. Fermentation was used in the preparation of “bread, wine and many other types of food and drink” and, hence, was a well-known process even in the ancient times (Schwartz, 2001, p. 597). However, the process of fermentation was not clear to anyone and, hence, there was a lot of confusion regarding this procedure (Schwartz, 2001, p. 597). Moreover, the role of microorganisms in the process of fermentation was completely misunderstood (Schwartz, 2001, p. 597). Pasteur could not accept a confused explanation of fermentation (which was given by his German contemporary and adversary, Justus Liebig) and wanted to understand it clearly (Schwartz, 2001, p. 598). He began studies on fermentation in 1854 when his observations led him to think that asymmetry was a sign of life (Schwartz, 2001, p. 597). Pasteur’s studies led him to explain with utmost clarity how the fermentation takes place. While explaining the process of fermentation, Pasteur wrote that “fermentation, far from being a lifeless phenomenon, is a living process….all phenomena of fermentation correlate with the development of mycodermic cells and plants which I have prepared and studied in isolated pure states” (Schwartz, 2001, p. 598). The ‘Note on Lactic Fermentation,’ in which Pasteur described his method, was published in year 1857, and this was how Microbiology was born (Schwartz, 2001, p. 598). It was Pasteur who described the role of microorganisms in the process of fermentation and in doing so, paved a way to prepare food and drink, which were free from contamination, and remained healthy for a long time. Man learned to master the microbe with the help of a simple rule of microbiology given by Pasteur, which was to isolate a microorganism, and provide it with adequate growth (Schwartz, 2001, p. 598). Due to his knowledge of microbes, he was asked to help in finding a solution to the problem of wine diseases. It was through the studies of wine diseases that Pasteur first became interested in pathogenic organisms (Lundy & Janes, 2009, p. 69). He discovered that the microorganisms that spoiled wine can be killed by heating the wine to the temperature of 55 to 60 degree C (Lundy & Janes, 2009, p. 69). This heat process came to be known as ‘pasteurization’ (Redman, 20097, p. 145). ‘Pasteurization’ not only saved the French wine industry from failing but also saved many human lives, which were lost due to contamination of wine and milk (Lundy & Janes, 2009, p. 69). In this way, Louis Pasteur was instrumental in contributing immensely to the health of the people. The drink and dairy industries were revolutionized by the application of ‘pasteurization’ in the preparation of wine, beer, vinegar and dairy products (Schwartz, 2001, p. 598). Pasteurization made food healthy and safe to eat and kept it from contaminating. This ensured public safety and prevention of illness and diseases caused by contaminated food and drink. Moreover, by introducing the medical world to the importance of hygiene through his germ theory, Pasteur was also instrumental in saving thousands of lives by providing health strategies to public health. Importance of Hygiene in Public Health It was during his five years intensive research on silkworm disease, from 1865 to 1870, that Pasteur discovered the important role of hygiene in human health (Schwartz, 2001, p. 599). He observed that the silkworm nurseries proved to be a favorable breeding ground for infections as there was “excessive humidity, breeding chambers were too large” and beds were poorly kept (Debre, (1994/1008), p. 206). He observed that shortcomings in maintaining a healthy environment encouraged infection (Debre, (1994/1008), p. 206). In this way, Pasteur discovered ‘hygiene,’ which became one of the important weapons in combating and preventing infectious diseases (Debre, (1994/1008), p. 206). However, Pasteur’s idea was not easily accepted and when he told people in field of medicine and science that germs cause diseases, he was ridiculed and insulted by them (Hook, 2011, p. 60). Fortunately, some people responded positively to his germ theory and implemented it in their practice. One of the people was Dr. Joseph Lister, an English physician who was working in Scotland (Hook, 2011, p. 59). Washing the hands before and after the surgery was made a compulsory practice for the doctors and nurses in his hospital (Hook, 2011, p. 59). In addition, sterilization of surgical instruments in carbolic acid was made a requirement (Hook, 2011, p. 59). Regular cleaning of the hospital and frequent change of patient’s bandage was also practiced regularly in Lister’s hospital (Hook, 2011, p. 59). After following these hygiene steps suggested by Pasteur for two years, Dr. Lister found that the rate of surgical death in his hospital dropped from 45 percent to 15 percent (Hook, 2011, p. 59). Through his letter, Lister conveyed it to Pasteur how important his labor has proved to humanity (Hook, 2011, p. 59). Even today, the destruction of harmful bacteria, virus, fungi and spores, sterilization of surgical instruments and medications is practiced thoroughly in hospitals throughout the world (Hook, 2011, p. 59). Till today, hygiene is one of the key pillars of public health and has helped in preventing communicable diseases from spreading. This indicates how important Pasteur’s contribution to public health is. However, Pasteur’s contribution to public health does not end here. By providing the world with vaccines, he created a solution to the life-threatening problem of epidemics and communicable diseases, which haunted humanity for a long time. Vaccines It was in year 1879 that Pasteur made a fundamental discovery in the filed of vaccines during the study of a disease called fowl cholera, which was rampant at that time (Schwartz, 2001, p. 599). Pasteur found that chickens died when they were inoculated with several drops of a culture of the bacteria, which caused cholera (Schwartz, 2001, p. 599). However, he also noted that chicken were protected from death and infection when they were inoculated with old culture (Schwartz, 2001, p. 599). In this way, the discovery of the “principle of vaccination with attenuated pathogens” was made (Schwartz, 2001, p. 599). This discovery led Pasteur to apply it to other communicable diseases, which were killing thousands of animals and people at that time (Schwartz, 2001, p. 599). The first disease that he focused on was anthrax as it was a deadly and highly contagious disease, which was contracted by cattle, horses and humans (Hook, 2011, p. 63). In 1881, Pasteur conducted a public experiment in which he vaccinated 24 sheep and left other 24 sheep nonvaccinated (Schwartz, 2001, p. 600). Later, he injected all the 48 sheep with anthrax bacillus to find if vaccines work (Schwartz, 2001, p. 600). It was found that vaccinated sheep survived the injection and nonvaccinated sheep died (Schwartz, 2001, p. 600). It was an extraordinary achievement and Pasteur was able to convince the public that vaccines work (Schwartz, 2001, p. 600). However, his final and astounded victory came with his solution to most dreaded disease of rabies. Rabies Vaccine Rabies was the most dreaded disease by the public during Pasteur’s time. Pasteur began working on a vaccine for rabies after being sure that it attacks the brain and spinal cord (Hook, 2011, p. 78). He decided to apply the principle of vaccination to rabies. He removed the spinal cord of rabbit that had died of rabies, to prepare a weakened solution of the rabies (Hook, 2011, p. 78). Several healthy dogs were injected with this rabies solution for two weeks and, each dog remained healthy (Hook, 2011, p. 79). Later, a deadly dose of rabies was injected in vaccinated dogs and it was found that even the deadly dose did not kill them or affect their health (Hook, 2011, p. 79). Later, he conducted an experiment to find if a weakened rabies solution can save the dog that had already contracted rabies (Hook, 2011, p. 79). He found that when the healthy dog was injected with rabies solution for 14 days after being bitten by a rabid dog, it became immune to the disease (Hook, 2011, p. 79). The experiment proved that Pasteur had created a vaccine for rabies. This was a jubilant achievement for Pasteur and it created a huge wave of hope throughout the world. His first rabies patient was 9-year-old Joseph Meister who came to him on Monday 6 July 1885 (Hook, 2011, p. 82). However, Pasteur’s conscience did not allow him to try the vaccine on human beings as he thought that not being a medical doctor, it was illegal for him to use it on patients (Hook, 2011, p. 80). It was only after encouragement and insistence from his colleagues that he agreed to vaccinate Joseph (Hook, 2011, p. 81). Joseph’s life was saved through the rabies vaccine created by Pasteur (Pearce, 2002, p.82). Pasteur’s laboratory was thronged by people from all over the world who were victims of rabid dog bites (Hook, 2011, p. 82). Doctors and scientists from all over Europe came to Paris to meet the man who saved thousands of lives by creating the vaccine (Hook, 2011, p. 84). Pasteur’s Contribution to Modern World Even though more than a century has passed after Pasteur’s invention of vaccines, his work is still very much valid, and is as essential to public health today as it was in his times. Lister (1893) expressed in his letter to Pasteur that by discovering the microbial origin of infectious diseases, he has raised the curtain, which had shrouded the infectious diseases for a long time (Schwartz, 2001, p. 597). Vaccines created by Pasteur are still helpful in saving millions of people and his research methods have left a legacy for human beings to find a solution to deadly diseases like AIDS and BSE, which are a great threat to humanity (Schwartz, 2001, p. 600). In addition, the use of anthrax as a biological weapon by extremists after terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, shows that vaccines have become a necessity to protect and maintain public health (Hook, 2011, p. 62). This proves that even in today’s modern world, Louis Pasteur’s contribution is essential in saving humanity. Hence, Louis Pasteur’s contributions to the field of science, microbiology and medicine are recognized by almost all historians (Gillen & Sherwin, 2008, p. 45). Conclusion The discussion above reveals that Louis Pasteur’s life was a dedication to the health of humanity. He not only solved the mystery of infectious diseases but also provided a cure and prevention for them. The public health sector can achieve its goals of maintaining and protecting human lives by applying the strategies provided by Louis Pasteur. Despite of the technological developments and advancements of the modern world, Louis Pasteur’s contribution is still very much valid and is a boon for the public health sector. It will not be wrong to say that Louis Pasteur is a savior of public health and, hence, a savior of mankind. References Debre, P. (1998). Louis Pasteur. (E.Forster, Trans.). Baltimore, MD: The John Hopkins UP. (Original work published 1994). Gillen, A.L. & Sherwin, F.J. (2008). Louis Pasteur’s Views on Creation, Evolution, And The Genesis of Germs. Answers Research Journal, 1, 43-52. Gostin, L. O. (2008). Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint (2nd Ed.). Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, Ltd. Hook, S.V. (2011). Louis Pasteur: Groundbreaking Chemist And Biologist. Edina, MN: ABDO Publishing Company. Lundy, K.S. & Janes, S. (2009). Community Health Nursing: Caring For Public’s Health (2nd ed.). Sandbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Pearce, J.M. (2002). Louis Pasteur and Rabies: A Brief Note. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 73, 82. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.73.1.82 Redman, N.E. (2007). Food Safety (2nd ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC CLIO, LLC. Schwartz, M. (2001). The Life and Works Of Louis Pasteur. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 91 (4), 597-601. Tulchinsky, T.H. & Varavikova, E.A. (2009). The New Public Health (2ndnd ed). Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic Press. Read More