Louis Pasteur Administers First Rabies Vaccine to Human
By the 1880s, Louis Pasteur had developed methods to attenuate the rabies virus through drying rabbit spinal cords, building on his earlier work with anthrax and chicken cholera vaccines. In early July 1885, nine-year-old Joseph Meister arrived in Paris after being severely bitten by a rabid dog. Pasteur, initially hesitant to test on humans, consulted colleagues and decided to proceed after the boy's prognosis appeared dire. Beginning July 6, he administered a series of 14 daily injections of progressively less attenuated virus preparations. Meister survived without developing rabies, marking the first successful human application of the treatment.
Why it matters: The success established the foundation for modern post-exposure prophylaxis against rabies and broader immunization practices. It transformed Pasteur's laboratory into a global center for vaccine development and demonstrated the practical power of germ theory in combating infectious diseases.