The theory of universal flux

Speaking opponent of the view that fossils are considered a game of nature, Sheyhtser propagated their beliefs with great fervor and enthusiasm. In his essay «Pis-cium querelae et vindiciae» huge petrified pike from Eningenskih quarries serve as the representative of fossil fish in a long Latin speech complaining of the terrible injustices perpetrated became extinct fish: nor innocent, they were destroyed during the flood, and now they do not even want to consider what they actually were, but considering how mineral formation. Later, when Eningene was found giant salamander, Sheyhtser mistook her for one of those wicked people who died during the flood, and sang it in sonorous verse. "This is a rare monument to antediluvian man cursed by God ... - He says - may well see the outlines of the frontal bone, the edges of orbital cavities, the openings through which the great nerve of the fifth pair, the remnants of the brain, the zygoma, the traces of the nose, a piece of chewing muscles, sixteen dorsal vertebrae and fragments of skin. " One can not but regret that this venerable and distinguished researcher in the heat of passion, so far shied away from the truth. But among his contemporaries referred to essay the author gave a tremendous reputation and overshadowed the other outstanding works Sheyhtsera in which he is the father of alpine research. After the death of Sheyhtsera struggle between representatives of both schools continued, but beat each other they could not: the pressure of a new, more correct view of the fossils, both areas have disappeared and been forgotten. In the history of science is constantly repeated remarkable phenomenon: when the new-view does not appear due to the accumulation of new obvious facts, but only because the long-known observation receive the correct explanation, then he does not have to engage in combat with the old ideas and to conquer them by force of arguments, it contends itself: the representatives of the old views are becoming extinct, and the younger generations are taking a new theory, as the obvious: for the full recognition it needs is time.