CHAPTER XIV.

SUBTERRANEAN HEAT--ITS EXISTENCE DEMONSTRATED BY FACTS.

Theory of Stratified Rocks supposes Disturbances of the Earth’s Crust--These Disturbances ascribed by Geologists to the Action of subterranean Heat--The Existence of Subterranean Heat, and its Power to move the Crust of the Earth, proved by direct Evidence--Supposed Igneous Origin of our Globe--Remarkable Increase of Temperature as we descend into the Earth’s Crust--Hot Springs--Artesian Wells--Steam issuing from Crevices in the Earth--The Geysers of Iceland--A Glimpse of the subterranean Fires--Mount Vesuvius in 1779--Vast Extent of Volcanic Action--Existence of subterranean Heat an established fact, 233