VI LIFE AND WORKS OF NICOLAUS STENO 



Jesuit concerning Protestantism and Catholicism, which revived his 

 Paris 1664 interest in religious matters, Steno went to Paris, where his fame as 

 -1665. a natural philosopher had gone before him, and where he was re* 

 ceived with the greatest kindness and cordiality. Thevenot, the distin* 

 guished supporter of the various branches of natural science and the 

 founder of the French Academy, very kindly took care of him, helped 

 him to get subjects for his anatomical and physiological researches, 

 introduced him into the best circles of the capital and even invited 

 him to live in his own house. Steno met there his friend Swammerdam, 

 who also was a guest of Thevenot' s. Steno and Swammerdam were 

 both of them amiable, straightforward and honest young men, equally 

 enthusiastic about the study of natural science, and though Swam= 

 merdam's interests were more particularly confined to the morpho* 

 logy and biology of the lower animals, his studies being thus to 

 some extent remote from what were the chief objects of Steno's re* 

 searches, yet the two friends collaborated in two or three series of 

 investigations. It was also in Paris, before an audience of interested 

 scholars, who met at the house of Thevenot, that Steno delivered his 

 famous discourse on the anatomy and physiology of the brain. — 

 But in Paris, no more than in any other place, did he exclusively 

 seek the scientific circles; he associated with many people of different 

 interests, especially with catholic divines and people connected with 

 them. Thus Steno is known to have been debating religious problems, 

 among others with Elisabeth Rantzau (Deo sacvata Rantzovia), the wi* 

 dow of Josias Rantzau, Marshal of France, who herself had taken the 

 veil and founded a nunnery of the order of the Annunciata. 



After having visited serveral towns in France, about which voyage 

 Florence little or nothing is known, Steno left for Italy, arriving in Florence 

 in the summer of 1665. The letters of introduction, which he brought 

 from Thevenot, his fame and prepossessing appearance made all doors 

 open to him, and he soon felt quite at home in this city, which, as 

 the years went on, he learned to love more and more. The Grand? 

 Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinand II, in various ways attached Steno to 

 his court, partly by securing him a good income that he might live 

 without cares, partly by procuring him materials for investigation and 

 the opportunity of carrying out his researches. 



These first years in Florence were the happiest years of Steno's life. 

 He was honoured and liked, he felt that he was among friends, and 

 he loved the city and country in which he was living. He eagerly 

 took part in the social life of the town, felt happy and free of cares, 

 and his most important scientific works appeared during this period. 



It would take too long to give a detailed account of all the eminent 

 men, with whom Steno became acquainted, and to whom he at* 

 tached himself during these years. We will only briefly, and with 



