

Compound monocular microscope used by Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), the French chemist and microbiologist, used microscopes like this compound microscope during his experiments on spontaneous generation. By 1864, Pasteur disproved this theory by experimenting with fermentation. He placed yeast water in a swan-necked flask that only allowed air to enter. The water remained clear. Only when the flask was open to dust and micro-organisms did fermentation occur. The microscope was made by Nachet et fils.
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Science Museum: Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries
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Details
- Category:
- Microscopy (Wellcome)
- Object Number:
- A55114 Pt1
- Materials:
- base, iron, cast, enamelled, very dark green, body tube suport, brass, body tube, brass, lenses, glass, limb, brass, pillar, brass and stage, brass, blackened
- type:
- compound microscope
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- optical instrument
- microscope
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- optical instrument
- microscope
- credit:
- Loan, Wellcome Trust
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