La Microbiologie en Australie; Études d'Hygiéne & de Pathologie Comparée pour Suivies a l'Institute Pasteur de Sydney

Paris: G. Steinheil (Éditeur), 1892. First Edition. Author, Adrien Loir, was assistant to the world reknowned French scientist, Louis Pasteur. Loir travelled to Australia in 1888 on a ship called the 'Cuzco'.

"The Pasteur Institute undertook significant work in Australia during the late 1800s. Pasteur and his colleagues attempted to curb the growing rabbit population (unsuccessfully). However, they were successful in developing several other vaccines, including one for the dreaded disease Anthrax... In his thesis titled 'La Microbiologie en Australie', Loir points out that there was strong opposition to the destruction of rabbits from the graziers, who had identified damage caused by rabbits as a justification for claims to reduce the Government rent on the land. Loir also explains that the political climate in Australia was such that the reluctance to see the Pasteur Mission succeed was virtually unanimous. Finally, the make-up of the Rabbit Commission itself was, in Loir's opinion, enough to explain its 'ill will' against the French scientists: 'an inter-colonial Commission was nominated, with great care in choosing among the various colonies those who were the most overtly opposed to Mr Pasteur's project'... Loir's visit to Australia would lead to fruitful collaboration in another area: the fight against cattle diseases... His thesis, 'La Microbiologie en Australie', was the first account of diseases of animals in Australia to appear in Europe, and was published towards the end of 1892." -Guillaume Mallet and Denise Sutherland. Octavo, paper wrappers, 96 pages, small chip to half title, mild streak on title page, otherwise fine.