13 - Louis Pasteur by Albert Keim, Louis Lumet

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) once said, In the fields of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind. This remarkable scientist approached the realms of chemistry, microbiology, and applied immunology with an innovative and open mind. Born to humble beginnings in the French Jura, Pasteurs relentless determination often saw him persevere against significant opposition. Through a series of carefully designed and meticulously executed experiments, he developed veterinary vaccines that transformed the French wine, silk, and dairy industries, saving them from devastating losses. His groundbreaking work provided the essential experimental validation for the germ theory of disease, paving the way for figures like Joseph Lister to prevent infections in surgical patients and new mothers. Pasteur and his team put their lives on the line during the development of the rabies vaccine, ultimately delivering humanity from the clutches of this agonizing and often fatal illness. (Pamela Nagami, M.D.)