ULouis Pasteur—Okwembulwa Umsebenzi Wakhe

NGUMLOBELI WE-PHAPHAMA! EFRANCE

INGABE ukuphila kungavela ngokuzenzekelayo? Ekhulwini le-19, abanye ososayensi babecabanga kanjalo. Babenomuzwa wokuthi ukuphila kungavela nje ezintweni ezingaphili, ngaphandle kokungenela komdali.

Kodwa ngolunye usuku kusihlwa entwasahlobo ngo-April 1864 (eNyakatho Nenkabazwe), izilaleli ezazisemhlanganweni eSorbonne University eParis zezwa okuthile okuhlukile. Enikeza inkulumo yobuciko phambi kwekhomishane yososayensi, uLouis Pasteur wabonisa ngokuphumelelayo ukuthi ayilona neze iqiniso inkolelo-mbono yokuvela kwezinto ngokuzenzekelayo.

Lenkulumo kanye nokunye akuthola kamuva kwamenza “omunye wososayensi abavelele emhlabeni,” njengoba kusho i-World Book Encyclopedia. Kodwa kungani lendoda yaba nethonya elingaka kubantu bangesikhathi sayo, futhi yaziwa kanjani emhlabeni wonke? Sizuza ngayiphi indlela kwezinye zezinto eyazithola?

Ukucwaninga Kokuqala

ULouis Pasteur wazalwa ngo-1822 edolobhaneni laseDôle, empumalanga yeFrance. Uyise, owayengumshuki wezikhumba, wayenezifiso ezinkulu ngendodana yakhe. Nakuba ayethambekele kwezobuciko obuphambili, uLouis waphishekela ezesayensi. Wathola iziqu zobungcweti besayensi lapho eneminyaka engu-25 ubudala.

Ukucwaninga kwakhe kokuqala kwakuphathelene ne-tartaric acid, isithako esitholakala enhleseni esala emigqonyeni yewayini. Imiphumela yalokho kucwaninga yasetshenziswa abanye abacwaningi eminyakeni embalwa kamuva njengesisekelo se-organic chemistry yanamuhla. Kamuva uPasteur wacwaninga ngezinto eziyimbiliso.

Ngaphambi kokucwaninga kukaPasteur, zazaziwa izinto eziyimbiliso njengemvubelo. Kodwa kwakucatshangwa ukuthi zibangelwa ukubila. Nokho, uPasteur wabonisa ukuthi lezi zinto eziyimbiliso zazingewona umphumela wokubila kodwa kunalokho zaziyimbangela yakho. Wabonisa ukuthi uhlobo ngalunye lwembiliso lwalubangela ukubila kohlobo oluhlukile. Umbiko awunyathelisa ngalokhu ngo-1857 namuhla ubhekwa “njengesiqalo sesayensi yezinto ezincane eziphilayo.”

Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke, umsebenzi wakhe nezinto azithola kwanda. Ngenxa yodumo lwakhe, abakhiqizi bakaviniga e-Orléans bamcela ukuba azoxazulula izinkinga zabo eziningi zobuchwepheshe. UPasteur wabonisa ukuthi isithako esenza iwayini libe uviniga sasiyilokho manje okubizwa ngokuthi into encane ephilayo (microorganism), esasiphezu koketshezi. Lapho eqeda ukucwaninga kwakhe, wethula phambi kwabakhiqizi bakaviniga nabahlonishwa bedolobha i-“Lesson on Wine Vinegar [Isifundo Ngoviniga Wewayini].”

Inqubo Ye-pasteurization

Ukucwaninga kukaPasteur ngembiliso kwamenza waphetha ngokuthi iningi lezinkinga zokungcola embonini yezokudla zazibangelwa amagciwane. Kwakunamagciwane emoyeni noma ezitsheni ezingahlanziwe kahle. UPasteur wabonisa ukuthi ukubola kokudla ngenxa yamagciwane kungavinjelwa ngokuthuthukisa izinga lenhlanzeko nokuthi ukubola kwezinto eziwuketshezi kungavinjelwa ngokugcina izinga lokushisa liphakathi kuka-50 no-60° C. imizuzu embalwa. Lenqubo yaqale yasetshenziswa ewayinini ukuze kuvinjelwe ukubila okungavamile. Amagciwane ayinkinga abulawa ngaphandle kokushintsha kakhulu ukunambitheka noma iphunga lewayini.

Lenqubo, ebizwa ngokuthi i-pasteurization, eyasungulwa uPasteur, yashintsha imboni yezokudla. Namuhla lenqubo ayisasetshenziselwa iwayini kodwa isasebenza emikhiqizweni eminingi njengobisi noma ujusi wezithelo. Nokho, zingasetshenziswa nezinye izinqubo, njengokubulala amagciwane ngezinga lokushisa eliphakeme kakhulu.

Enye imboni enkulu eyazuza ekucwaningeni kukaPasteur kwakuyimboni ephisa utshwala. Ngaleso sikhathi, abaseFrance babenezinkinga eziningi zokuphisa kanye nokuqhudelana okushubile nabaseJalimane. UPasteur waqala umsebenzi futhi wanikeza abavubeli botshwala amacebiso amaningi. Wasikisela ukuba banakekele ukuhlanzeka kotshwala obuvutshelwayo kanye nokuhlanzeka okuvamile komoya ozungezile. Impumelelo yafika ngokushesha, futhi wathola izimvume eziningi ezingokomthetho ngemva kwalokho.

Ukuphila Kuvela Ekuphileni

Kusukela ezikhathini zasendulo, kwakuhlongozwe imibono eyihaba ngempela ukuze kuchazwe ukuvela kwezinambuzane, izibungu, noma ezinye izilwanyana ezintweni ezibolayo. Ngokwesibonelo, ekhulwini le-17, isazi esithile sokuthakwa kwemithi saseBelgium saziqhayisa ngokuthi sasenze ukuba kuvele amagundane ngokugxusha iyembe elingcolile emgqonyeni kakolweni!

Phakathi nesikhathi sikaPasteur yayishubile impikiswano emkhakheni wezesayensi. Ukubhekana nabasekeli bokuvela kwezinto ngokuzenzekelayo kwakuyinselele enkulu. Kodwa ngenxa yalokho ayekufunde ekucwaningeni kwakhe ngembiliso, uPasteur wayenesibindi. Ngakho wenza ukuhlola okwakuhloselwe ukuwuqeda unomphela umbono wokuvela kwezinto ngokuzenzekelayo.

Ukuhlola kwakhe esebenzisa amafulaski anentamo enjengeyedada kungokunye okudume kakhulu. Uketshenzi olushiywe emoyeni efulaskini evuliwe lonakaliswa amagciwane ngokushesha. Nokho, lapho lugcinwe efulaskini enentamo emise okweyedada, uketshezi olufanayo luhlala luhlanzekile. Kungani kunjalo?

Incazelo kaPasteur yayilula: Lapho edlula entanyeni enjengeyedada, amagciwane asemoyeni awela ngaphakathi engilazini, ngakho umoya usuke ungasenamagciwane lapho ufinyelela oketshezini. Amagciwane atholakala efulaskini evulekile awavezwa uketshezi kodwa athwalwa umoya.

Ukuze aveze amandla omoya okuthwala amagciwane, uPasteur waya eMer de Glace, inguzunga yeqhwa ezintabeni i-Alps zaseFrance. Endaweni ephakeme ngamamitha angu-1800, wavula amafulaski akhe wawabeka emoyeni. Phakathi kwamafulaski angu-20, yinye kuphela eyangenwa amagciwane. Khona-ke waya ngaphansi kweziNtaba zaseJura futhi waphinda ukuhlola okufanayo. Lapho, endaweni ephansi kakhulu, amafulaski angu-8 angenwa amagciwane. Ngakho wabonisa ukuthi ngenxa yomoya ohlanzekile osendaweni ephakeme, kwakunengozi encane yamagciwane.

Ngalokhu kuhlola uPasteur wabonisa ngokucacile ukuthi ukuphila kuvela kuphela ekuphileni obekulokhu kukhona. Akuveli ngokuzenzekelayo, okuwukuthi, kuzivelele kona ngokwakho.

Ukulwa Nezifo Ezithathelwanayo

Njengoba kudingeka amagciwane ukuze kube nembiliso, uPasteur waphetha ngokuthi kufanele kube isimo esifanayo ngezifo ezithathelwanayo. Ukucwaninga kwakhe ngesifo se-silkworm, inkinga engathi sína engokomnotho yabakhiqizi bakasilika eningizimu yeFrance, kwafakazela ukuthi wayeqinisile. Phakathi neminyaka embalwa, wathola izimbangela zezifo ezimbili futhi wahlongoza izinqubo eziqinile zokukhetha ama-silkworm aphilile. Lokhu kwakuyonqanda izifo eziwumqedazwe.

Lapho ecwaninga ngekholera yezinkukhu, uPasteur waphawula ukuthi ukusetshenziswa kwaleli gciwane elinezinyanga ezimbalwa kuphela ubudala kwakungazigulisi izinkukhu kodwa kunalokho kwakuzivikela kulesi sifo. Eqinisweni, wathola ukuthi wayengazigoma ngaleli gciwane eliphundliwe, noma elenziwe laba buthaka.

UPasteur wayengeyena owokuqala ukusebenzisa imithi yokugoma. INgisi u-Edward Jenner layisebenzisa ngaphambi kwakhe. Kodwa uPasteur wayengowokuqala ekusebenziseni igciwane loqobo lesifo eliphundliwe kunokuba asebenzise elinye igciwane. Waphumelela futhi ekugomeni umbendeni, isifo esithathelwanayo sezilwane ezinegazi elifudumele, njengezinkomo nezimvu.

Ngemva kwalokhu, walwa impi yakhe yokugcina futhi edume kakhulu kunazo zonke, ngokumelene namarabi. Nakuba ayengaqapheli, lapho elwa namarabi, uPasteur wayelwa nento ehluke ngokuphelele emagciwaneni. Manje wayeselwa nama-virus, izinto ayengaziboni ngesibonakhulu.

Ngo-July 6, 1885, umama othile waletha indodana yakhe eneminyaka engu-9 ubudala endaweni uPasteur ayecwaningela kuyo. Lomntwana wayesanda kulunywa yinja enamarabi. Naphezu kokunxusa kwalomama, uPasteur wayenqikaza ukusiza lomfana. Wayengeyena udokotela futhi wayengazifaka engozini yokumangalelwa ngokwelapha ngokungemthetho. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wayengakazizami izinqubo zakhe kumuntu. Noma kunjalo, wacela ayebambisene naye, uDkt. Grancher, ukuba agome lomfanyana. Wakwenza lokho, futhi lomfanyana wasinda. Phakathi kwabantu abangu-350 abelashwa esikhathini esingaphansi konyaka, munye kuphela—owalethwa sekwephuze kakhulu—ongazange asinde.

Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uPasteur wayecabangela izinga lenhlanzeko ezibhedlela. I-puerperal fever yayibulala abesifazane abaningi unyaka ngamunye esibhedlela sokubelethisa eParis. UPasteur wasikisela izinqubo zokulwa namagciwane nezinga eliphakeme lenhlanzeko, ikakhulukazi eyezandla. Ukuhlola kwakamuva kukadokotela ohlinzayo waseNgilandi uJoseph Lister nabanye kwabonisa ukunemba kweziphetho zikaPasteur.

Umsebenzi Obalulekile

UPasteur wafa ngo-1895. Kodwa umsebenzi wakhe wawubalulekile, futhi siyazuza ezicini zawo ngisho nanamuhla. Yingakho eye wabizwa ngokuthi “umzuzisi wesintu.” Igama lakhe lisahlotshaniswa nemithi yokugoma nezinqubo aziwa kabanzi njengomsunguli wazo.

I-L’Institut Pasteur, inhlangano eyasungulwa eParis phakathi nesikhathi sokuphila kukaPasteur ukuze kulashwe amarabi, namuhla iyisikhungo esaziwa kabanzi ekuhloleni izifo ezithathelwanayo. Yaziwa ikakhulukazi ngokuthuthukisa kwayo imithi yokugoma nemithi evamile—ikakhulukazi kusukela ngo-1983 lapho iqembu lososayensi bakhona, ababeholwa uProfesa Luc Montagnier, laveza ngokokuqala ngqá igciwane lengculaza.

Impikiswano ephathelene nokuvela kokuphila ngokuzenzekelayo, uPasteur ayehileleke kuyo futhi ayinqoba, yayingeyona nje impikiswano engokwesayensi. Yayingaphezu nje kokuba iphuzu elithakazelisayo ososayensi noma ongqondongqondo abambalwa ababengaxoxa ngalo. Yayibaluleke kakhulu—yayihilela ubufakazi obuphathelene nobukhona bukaNkulunkulu.

UFrançois Dagognet, isazi sefilosofi saseFrance esigxile kwezesayensi, uphawula ukuthi ‘izitha [zikaPasteur], ezithanda izinto ezibonakalayo neziphika ubukhona bukaNkulunkulu, zazikholelwa ukuthi zingaveza ubufakazi bokuthi ama-molecule awohlokayo angaveza isilwanyana esinengqamuzana eyodwa. Lokhu kwazenza zalahla uNkulunkulu. Nokho, ngokukaPasteur, yayingekho indlela yokuveza ukuphila ekufeni.’

Kuze kube namuhla bonke ubufakazi bokuhlola, bomlando, besayensi yezinto eziphilayo, besayensi yemivubukulo, nobesayensi yemvelaphi yabantu buyaqhubeka bubonisa lokho uPasteur akuveza—ukuthi ukuphila kungavela kuphela ekuphileni obekulokhu kukhona, hhayi ezintweni ezingaphili. Futhi lobu bufakazi bubonisa ngokucacile ukuthi ukuphila kukhiqiza ‘ngokwezinhlobo zakho,’ njengoba kusho ukulandisa kweBhayibheli kuGenesise. Ngaso sonke isikhathi inzalo ‘iwuhlobo’ olufana nabazali.—Genesise 1:11, 12, 20-25.

Ngakho, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi wayazi noma cha, ngomsebenzi wakhe uLouis Pasteur wanikeza ubufakazi obunamandla ngokumelene nenkolelo-mbono yokuziphendukela kwemvelo obusekela isidingo esiqinisekile sobukhona bomdali owenza kwaba nokuphila emhlabeni. Umsebenzi wakhe waveza lokho umhubi othobekile akuvuma: “Yazini ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu; nguye osenzileyo, akuthina.”—IHubo 100:3.

[Izithombe ekhasini 25]

Umshini ongenhla wawusetshenziselwa ukulonda iwayini, kubulawe amagcinwane angafuneki; uvezwe ngokugqamile emdwebweni ongezansi

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Ukuhlola kukaPasteur kwaveza ukuthi ingamanga inkolelo-mbono yokuvela kwezinto ngokuzenzekelayo

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All photos pages 24-6: © Institut Pasteur