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The Earth:
Its Physical Condition and Most Remarkable Phenomena
by
W. Mullinger Higgins
Harper and Bros.
1858
This electronic edition prepared by Dr.
David C. Bossard
from original documents in his personal library
December, 2009.
Copyright © 2009 by David C. Bossard.
CONTENTS.
001
002
003
004
005
006
007
008
009
010
011
012
013
014
015 016
017
018
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
019 020
021
022
Objects of physical science --
divisions of science -- influence of
theory -- personal advantages derived from science -- proofs of design
-- knowledge raises the standard of happiness -- pleasures of
investigation-harmony of natural agents -- application of science to
the arts -- effects of scientific knowledge -- origin of the physical
sciences -- importance of the mathematics -- education.
CHAPTER I: THE EARTH IN RELATION TO
THE UNIVERSE. 023 024
025
026
027 028
029
030
031
032
033
034
035
036
037
038
039
040
041
042
043
044
045
046
047
048
049
The form and dimensions of the earth --
revolution of the earth on its axis -- theory of the formation of the
earth -- centrifugal force -- the pendulum -- the fixed stars -- the
planets -- force of gravity -- curvilinear motion -- magnitude and
distance of the planets -- day and night.
CHAPTER II. CELESTIAL
APPEARANCES.
050
051
052
053
054
055
056
057
058
059
060
061
062
063
064
065
Comets -- origin of astrology --
nebu1ae -- phases of the moon -- eclipses
CHAPTER IlL THE ATMOSPHERE AND ITS
PHENOMENA. 066
067
068 069
070
071
072
073 074
075
076
077
078
079
080
081
082 083
084
085
086
087
088
089
090
091
092
093
094 095
096
097
098
099
100
101
Proofs of the existence of an
atmosphere -- composition of air -- properties of the atmosphere --
transparency -- fluidity -- balloons -- expansibility of air --
pressure of the atmosphere -- barometers -- extent of the atmosphere --
air as a conductor of sound -- echoes -- wind
CHAPTER IV. ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA
DEFENDANT ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF HEAT. 102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115 116
117
118
119 120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127 128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
Nature of heat -- dilatation by heat --
thermometers -- latent heat -- evaporation -- hygrometers
-- clouds -- classification of clouds -- rain -- snow -- hail -- dew --
hoar-frost -- mist -- connexion of the sciences of heat and meteorology
CHAPTER V. PHENOMENA DEPENDANT ON THE
DISTRIBUTION AND CONDITIONS OF LIGHT. 155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168 169
170
171
172
173 174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182 183
184
185
186
Production of light -- nature of light
-- general facts -- -reflection -- refraction -- twilight --
mirage -- decomposition of
light by refraction -- decomposition of light by absorption -- colour
of bodies -- colour of the clouds -- rainbow-- halo -- coronae --
parhelia -- the study of the science of optics
CHAPTER VI. PHENOMENA DEFENDANT ON THE
DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRICITY. 187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194 195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
Identity of electricity and the agent
that produces lightning -- effects of lightning -- circumstances under
which lightning is produced -- thunder-clouds -- lightning-conductors
-- electrical condition of the atmosphere -- aurora borealis -- St.
Elmo's light
CHAPTER VII. PHENOMENA DEPENDANT ON
TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM. 203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215 216
217
218
The loadstone -- magnetic attraction --
magnetic induction
-- polarity and induction -- variation of the magnetic needle --
annual change of the variation -- diurnal change of the variation --
the dip -- origin of terrestrial magnetism
CHAPTER VIII. INTERIOR OF THE EARTH.
219 220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227 228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268 269
270
271
272
273 274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282 283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294 295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315 316
317
318
319 320
321
Geological theories -- the crust of the
earth -- general remarks -- the order of rocks -- stratification of
rocks -- cleavage of rocks -- disturbed strata -- --
elevation or depression of strata -- classification of stratified
rocks -- unstratified rocks -- granitic rocks -- trap --
rocks -- granitic and trap veins -- metallic veins -- coal measures --
organic remains -- reptiles -- fossilized remains of maminalia --
diluvian action -- superficial gravels -- boulders -- bone caverns --
formation of valleys -- temperature of the interior of the earth --
volcanoes -- active volcanoes -- phenomena resulting from
volcanic activity -- volcanic islands -- earthquakes -- thermal
springs -- theories of volcanic action -- general remarks
CHAPTER IX. LAND AND WATER. 322
323
324
325
326
327 328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368 369
370
371
372
373 374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382 383
384
385
386
387
388
Formation of land -- definitions --
continents -- mountains -- elevation of mountains -- M. de Beaumont's
theory -- caverns -- springs -- glaciers -- rivers -- cascades and
cateracts -- lakes -- the sea-level of the sea -- colour of the ocean
-- phosphorescence of the sea -- temperature of the sea -- marine ice
-- icebergs -- water-spouts -- waves -- tides -- currents
-- chymical composition of substances -- elementary substances --
cohesion -- crystallization -- chymical attraction -- composition
of water
CHAPTER X. SUPERFICIAL TEMPERATURE OF
THE EARTH. 389
390
391
392
393
394 395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
The seasons -- mean temperature --
temperature of the sea -- climate -- temperature of the ancient earth
-- conclusion