Copy of Pasteur's flask used in his experiments on spontaneous generation, France, 1888-1927

Made:
1888-1927 in Paris
maker:
Institut Pasteur
Glass flask

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Glass flask
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Glass flask, copy of the one used by Pasteur in his experiments on spontaneous generation with wooden ring stand, labelled

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), the French chemist and microbiologist, used the original glass flask containing yeast water in his experiments on spontaneous generation. By 1864, Pasteur disproved this theory by experimenting with fermentation. He placed yeast water in a swan-necked flask (like this one) 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 flask has a handwritten label written by Pasteur reading “3 Août 1864, fevrier, eau de levure”. This translates from French as “3 August 1864, February, yeast water”. This copy was made by the Institut Pasteur, possibly for exhibition purposes.

Details

Category:
Microbiology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A63395
Materials:
glass, wood, materia medica and complete
Measurements:
overall: 190 mm x 160 mm x 85 mm, 0.138 kg
type:
flask
credit:
Institut Pasteur