The problem of hospital infection had vexed Lister for so long that he wondered if he would ever find a solution to it. But since his conversation with Professor Anderson about Pasteur’s latest research on fermentation, he felt a renewed optimism. Lister immediately sought out Pasteur’s publications on the decomposition of organic material, and with the help of Agnes he began replicating the French scientist’s experiments in his laboratory at home. For the first time, the answer was within his reach.
