by Ben Clausen
Translated for Ciencia de los Orígenes, Mayo-Agosto 1997, N.47, p.6,7
Niels Stensen, often known by the latinized Nicolaus Steno, is
considered to be one of the greatest among Danish naturalists. During his studies in
Amsterdam he discovered what came to be known as "Stensen's duct", the excretory
duct of the parotid gland providing the mouth with saliva for digestion. By order of the
Danish King, he had duties as the royal anatomist for 2 years. A line from a public
lecture given during this time has been widely quoted: "Beautiful is that which we
see, more beautiful that which we know, but by far the most beautiful that which we do not
comprehend."
His interests included the characteristics and origins of minerals,
rocks, and fossils so that his geological studies took him to Tuscany and the mountains of
central Italy in 1667 and 1668. In the summer of 1668 he wrote his most famous treatise
which was published the following April—the Prodromus, or
"forerunner" to a dissertation (which was never written). This treatise
contained so many new observations and views that Charles Lyell said, "from the
contents of the Prodromus a work might be composed under the title Principles of
Geology". Basic principles mentioned in this work include: the law of
superposition—if a series of sedimentary rocks has not been overturned, the upper
layers are younger and the lower layers are older; and the law of original
horizontality—although strata may be found dipping steeply, they were initially
deposited nearly horizontal. According to Steno's interpretation, Tuscany had twice been
flooded by the sea. The older marine strata were deposited in the universal ocean after
the second day of Creation and the younger sediments he attributed to the Universal Flood
of the Scriptures.
Steno experienced a conversion on All Souls' Day 1667 and was ordained
a Catholic priest in 1675. He spent the remainder of his life in ministerial work which
included presiding over a vast but poor diocese in northern Germany and Scandinavia. He
took the vow of voluntary poverty and gave all his belongings to the poor. After an ordeal
of poverty and fasting, he died on November 26, 1686.
References