Joseph Meister

Life
1876- 1940 (64 years old)

Country
France

Year of great discovery/work
1886

When he was 9 years old, Joseph Meister was bitten by a rabid dog while he was outside playing. Meister’s mother had read about Pasteur’s work and took her son to him, hoping he could save the boy’s life. After much deliberation over the ethical implications of using an experimental treatment on a human subject, Pasteur treated Joseph. Meister made a full recovery and did not develop rabies.

Did you know?
As an adult, Meister worked as a caretaker at the Pasteur Institute.