This English language edition is far more than a simple translation of the work "L'Histoire des vaccinations" published in 2008 in the same collection. The French edition has actually been totally revised and improved. In particular, it features a chapter dedicated entirely to yellow fever. A greater number of illustrations are included. This book will undoubtedly be of great interest to a section of the general public and to specialists. The history of vaccinations is a significant phase in the history of humanity. With the development of hygiene, vaccinations have certainly been the most notable progress of medicine. Nevertheless, this subject which has revolutionised human and animal medicine has long been explored poorly or not at all. This oversight has now been addressed through this fascinating work. All translated Pasteur texts are from the original manuscripts found in his laboratory notebooks. Finally, the moral problems inherent in the use of vaccines are addressed and at times, appear strangely similar to current situations…

Vol. 2 contains reproductions of original title pages of ten of the essays. Bibliographical footnotes.

"The practice of inoculation for the prevention of disease is one of considerable antiquity. The period of its discovery can only be conjectured, but there is little doubt that even in remote times it mush have been recognised by man, that certain diseases occur once only durng the life of an individual, or that after recovery he is generally immune against further attacks of the same disease." -- Chapter 1, Page 10.