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. 2017 Jan 4;6(4):e1270090.
doi: 10.1080/21597081.2016.1270090. eCollection 2016.

Félix Hubert d'Herelle (1873-1949): History of a scientific mind

William C Summers  1
Affiliations

Félix Hubert d'Herelle (1873-1949): History of a scientific mind

William C Summers. Bacteriophage. .

Abstract

The discovery of bacteriophage one century ago by the French-Canadian Félix d'Herelle set off controversies as to the nature of bacteriophage as well as over the priority and credit for this discovery. The background and life of d'Herelle reveals a complex, self-taught outsider in science who was strongly influenced by his admiration of Louis Pasteur, but also his attachment to the philosophical positions of early 17th century philosophers, especially Francis Bacon. D'Herelle left substantial unpublished writings on his philosophical musings toward the end of his life.

Keywords: biography; d'Herelle; discovery; history; philosophy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Félix d'Herelle and collaborators, about 1919, probably at the Pasteur Institute, Paris. From collection of the author.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. d'Herelle F. Sur un microbe invisible antagoniste des bacilles dysentériques. CR Acad. Sci. Paris 1917; 165:373-5.
    1. Twort FW. An investigation on the nature of ultra-microscopic viruses. The Lancet. 1915; 186(4814):1241-3; http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/S0140-6736(01)20383-3 - DOI
    1. Kuhn TS. Historical structure of scientific discovery. Science. 1962; 136(3518):760-4; PMID:14460344; http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1126/science.136.3518.760 - DOI - PubMed
    1. d'Herelle F. Les pérégrinations d'un microbiologiste. Unpublished, nd. Typescript in Pasteur Institute Archives.
    1. d'Herelle F. La valeur de l'expérience: essai de l'expérimentalisme. Unpublished, nd. Typescript in Pasteur Institute Archives.

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