Joseph Meister (February 21st 1876 - June 16th 1940) young Alsatian, was saved, whereas it was 9 years old (in 1885), of the Rage by Louis Pasteur.

The young boy had been bitten on July 4th by a dog mad on the way of the school with Meissengott, in Alsace. The Master of the dog, Theodore Vonné, then had cut down the animal then carried out the child in Doctor Weber of Villé. The doctor cleaned then cauterized the wounds of the boy to the Phenol and advised with his mother to take it along to see Louis Pasteur in Paris, already famous scientist and in the process of develop a vaccine against the rage. It is then Theodore Vonné who undertook to take along the child to Paris where Pasteur agreed to try out his discovery on him. The treatment given, which lasted 10 days with each day a stronger injection, succeeds and the boy did not develop the disease. He thus was the first man vaccinated against the rage.

Extremely of this success, Louis Pasteur and his team will realize more than 350 inoculations the year which followed, but not always successfully. The fame of this first vaccination made it possible to launch a subscription and the creation of the Institut Pasteur.

Later, Joseph Meister became guard from this institute in Paris. In 1940, at the 64 years age, it refused the entry of the crypt of Pasteur to the men of the Wehrmacht. Not being able to prevent them from entering, it turned over at his place and committed suicide with its old Revolver of service of the First World War.

These last years, several scientists and historians disputed the declarations of Pasteur at the time of this vaccination and that this one is at the origin of the re-establishment of the young person Joseph Meister.

External bond

• Brêve history of Joseph Meister