New-York tribune., 1879-08-29

tt onG Camersrius both eminent as botanlsts.
These writer's believed that the seeds OF mlneIas
and fossils we're diffnsed throughout the sea ahu
the earth and deyeopcd INTO their h thg pSeT mar
forms by the regu ar incremeut OF 'nem ttaIs tsI
tieles, similar to the formation os T91Tne
"How could the COrRH Amm0Hs, iou'ne
fort osLpd (Which is constantly in the
figure of a voute, he formed without q
,h iorar forms Who moulded it artfully,
and where are the moulds" The stalaetites wh,Gh d
formed in csyeTns IN N Ia%us M nrsfs Of this yeSestve
arowth St another theory has been neIu q. NIil. ar
ous times and IS not vet entviI sd inst
as they are found in the rocks, IN pursuance OF
plan beyond ourcomprchenslon lbls ineoIy ,;S Hfts
never prevailed among those falnnaI wllh
facts. and hence needs here no further considera-
FOSSILS DEPOSITED BY THE DELUGR-
Duriag the seventeenth century there was con-
siderable advance in the study Of fossil remains
The discussions in regard to the nature ana origih
of these objects had called attention to them' anu
many collections were made, especially III
Italy, and also IN Germany, where strong ih'ei
est in this subject had been aroused. Catalogues
of these collections were not unfrequentY pun
6sbed and some of them were illustrated with sucn
accurate figures that many OF the species cSn n'"
he readily recognized. In this century, too' an
important step in advance was made by the coneC-
ton and description of fossils from particular local
Ities and regions in distinction rom general coneo
tons of curiostieS
Besides the authors have mentioned, there were
many Others who wrote about fossil remains before
the close of the seventeenth century, and took part
In thc general discussion as to their nature ana
origin During the progress of this controversy the
most fantastic theories were broached and stouty
defended aud although Tefuted from time TO time
by few clear-headed men, continually sprang up
anew IN the same OF modified forms. The influence
of Aristotle's views of equivocal generation ana
especially the scholastic tendency to dlsputation'
% ev,}ent during the middle ages had contrib
ted largely 10 the rctaTdaton OF progress ana yet
real advance IN knowledge had been made
The long contest in regard TO the nature OF
fossil remains essentially over, Tor the
more intelligent opinion at the time now ac-
knowledged that these objects were not
mere sports of Nature" but bad once once been cen
endowed with life. At this point, therefore,, the
FIRST period in the history NJ Pal@0ntology, as have
indicated 1t, may appropriately end.
Ii is true chat later stiu the old exploded errors
about the plastic force and fermentation from
time 10 time revived, as they have been almost TO
The present day but learned men, with few excep-
fions no longer seriously questioned that fossils
were real organisms as the anclents had once DC,
1ieved. The many collections OF fossils that had
Leep brought together. and the illustrated works
that had been published about them, were tOunda-
tion for greater progress and, with the eighteenth
century, the second period IN the history OF Fal@on-
The main Characteristic Of this period was the
general belief that fossil remains were deposited by
the Mosaic deluge. We have seen that thls view
had already been advanced, but 1t was not tai the
beginning of the eighteenth century that II became
fhe urpvgilnC view. This doctrine was strongly
opposed by some courageous men, and the dlscns-
sion ON the subject soon became even moro bitter
than the previous One as 10 the nature OF fossils
In this diluyIal discussion theclOgians ana lay
men alike took part. For nearly century the
former had t all their own way, for the general
public then as now DeneyeI %na To- 'bbey beyy Mere d
universal and was the only general catastrophe Of
winch the people OF that day had any knowledge OF
Tfe scholars among them were Of course familiar
with fbp accounts of DeUCallOn and his ark, IN
previous deluge rs we are to-day with similar ira
ditiOus held by various races OF men. The hTm be-
lief that the earth and all il contains was created
in six days that all life on the globe was DESTROYED
bv the deluge, excepting alone what Noah saved
and that the earth and its mhabltautS were to be
DESTROYED by fire. was the foundation on which all
knowledge of the earth was based With such
fixed opinions, the fossil remains OF ANIMALS ana
plants were naturally regarded as relics left by the
food described IN Holy WRIT The dominant nature
OF this belief Is seen IN nearly an the literature III
regard to fossils published al this tline and some OF
The works which then appeared have become famous
In i7i0, David Buttner published a volume en-
titled "RgdeTd DijUUii IestoS" lie strongly opposed
ILwvd's explanation Of the origin Of fossils and
referred these objects directly to the Flood. The
most renowned work, however, OF tlis time. was
published at Zurich; in l32G, by scheuchz5IT, r. a
physician and naturalist and professor IN the Uni
yersity OF Altorf 1t bore the title " Homo D't"r"
Itstis."
aPes s 9C2ff Of c TfrES eFauTe o fossil @ during this Of
the eight enth century. ScheuchZer had previously
cation of the Fishes illustrated with good plates.
Moro, in his work Marine Bodies which are
found in the Mountains" l7iO, showed the enects
of volcanic action In elevatmg strata and causing
faults. Nalhsueu had studied with care the marine
deposits Of Italy. Donati In 1850, had investigated
the Adriatic and aSCerJained by soundlngS mat
shells aud cOrals were being imbedded IN the de-
posits there. just they were found III the rocks
voLTARF, BUFFoN AND LIYNECs.
Yoltaire 1G94-177S) discussed geological dues-
tIous and the nature Of fossils in several of his
works. but his published opinions are far from
sistent He ridicued effectively and justly the COS
nogonsts Of his day. and showed also, that he knew
the true nature of organic remains. Finding, how
ever that theoOgians used these objects to confirm
the Scrpura account of the dcluge, he changed his
views and accounted for fossil shells found in the
Alps by suggesting that they were Eastern species,
dropped by the pilgrims on their return from the
Holy Land
Button, in 1910, published his important work on
Natural History, and included in it his "Theory of
the Earth7 in which he discussed, with much
ability. many points in Geology. Soon after the
book was published, he received an official letter
from the Faculty of Theology in Paris, stating that
fourteen propositions In his works were roprehen-
sible and contrary to the creed Of the Church The
first Objectionable proposition was as follows;
"The waters cf the sea have produced the noun
tains aud valleys Of the laud-the waters of the
heavens reducing all TO a level will at last deliver
the whole land over to the sea, and the sea sue
Oesslvely prevailing over the land, will leave dry
new continents like those we inhabt."
Button was politely invited by the college TO re-
cant. aud having particular desire to be martyr
to science submitted the following declaration,
which ne was required TO publish in his next work:
al declare that had intention to contradict the
text of Scripture that believe most firmly all
dah IN hOf to