iv] of Glands and Tissues. 107 



cession confirmed him, entrusting him at the same time with 

 the education of his children. 



While thus engaged, still working at physiology, he turned 

 his versatile mind to other problems as well, to those of 

 comparative anatomy, and especially to those of the infant, 

 indeed hardly as yet born science of geology. His work De. 

 solido intra solidwrn is thought by geologists to be a brilliant 

 effort towards the beginning of their science. 



In 1672 he returned for a while to his native city of 

 Copenhagen, but within two years he was back again at 

 Florence ; and then there came to him, while as yet a young 

 man of some thirty-six summers, a sudden and profound change 

 in his life. 



In his early days he had heard much, too much perhaps, of 

 the doctrines of Luther. Probably he had been repelled by 

 the austere devotion which ruled the paternal roof. And, as 

 his answer to Bossuet shews, his university life and studies, his 

 intercourse with the active intellects of many lands, and his 

 passion for inquiry into natural knowledge had freed him from 

 passive obedience to dogma. He doubtless, as did many others 

 of his time, looked upon himself as one of the enlightened, as 

 one raised above the barren theological questions which were 

 moving the minds of lesser men. 



One day however visiting at Florence the pharmacy 

 attached to Santa Maria Novello (the same pharmacy at which 

 to-day you may buy orris root and other preparations), in order 

 to purchase some drug, the holy brother who sold him the 

 medicine for the body dropped some words about the remedies 

 for the soul. The stray arrow entered between the joints of 

 the harness. New thoughts were stirred up in the mind of 

 the man of science and of the world ; and within a year, to 

 the astonishment of his friends, and to the dismay of all 

 friends of the new learning, he forsook all his old studies, 

 gave up all inquiry into the works of nature, and by taking 

 orders solemnly devoted himself henceforward to the works of 

 God and religion. 



A convert of such powers and of such a fame could not but 

 be warmly received by the Church ; and in 1677, receiving the 



