236 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. ^ 



expandino^ as it approached the surface of the earth, or escaped 

 into this artilicial outlet, would absorb and nMider latent a hwge 

 amount of heat, and could thus clVoct the <^radual refrigeration 

 and actual freezing of a considerable body of wet gravel. 



** Considering that the drift heap in which the well is situated 

 rests on limestone, anil is not far distant from the junction of 

 the limestone with the mica slate, or gutMSs, w'C may easily con- 

 ceive of the occurrence of such caverns, fissures, natural conduits, 

 and subterranean watercourses as might complete an arrange- 

 ment on the principle of the water-tromper, one of the oldest con- 

 trivances for securing a blast to be used in iron furnaces, — and 

 thus afford a constant and ever-renewed supply of condensed 

 air. And, as the experiments of Dr. Gorrie show that but a mod- 

 erate degree of condensation is necessary to enable air to become 

 freezing cold by its return to the normal i)ulk, we may be warranted 

 in saying that such a cause, though of moderate power ami hav- 

 ing various impediments to overcome, would be sufficient to pro- 

 duce all the eifects observed in the case under consideration . . . 

 The actual freezing must proceed with greater rapidity at that 

 time of the year when the accumulated heat of tiie soil is al- 

 lowed the freest radiation, together with the least chance of in- 

 crease. In fact, it is said to be a matter of yearly observation, 

 that the well " begins to feel the cold weather," and to freeze 

 over in autumn, long before there are any heavy frosts above, 

 and, indeed, while the ground is still open for tillage. This 

 would seem to indicate a cause operating with almost unilbrm 

 force. 



" But not intending to lay too much stress on the water-trora- 

 per hypothesis, which, of course, is not entirely free from draw- 

 backs, and mayor may not be the true explanation of the singular 

 phenomenon under discussion, we wish more particularly to 

 bring forward to the notice of the acatlemy the fact of the con- 

 tinual rush of cold air out of the well at Brandon, — a current 

 probably having some connection with the freezing below. And 

 we may be allowed to remark that in the case of this particular 

 well, at least, any theory which fails to assign a sufficient cause 

 for the continued efflux leaves out of account a matter hardly less 

 wonderful than the perennial congelation itself." 



Profs. Storer and Ordway put on record the temperature of 

 sources of waiter open near this limited drift bed. 



** 1. In a spring sunk to about the dei)th of 10 feet from the 

 surface, — a stone's throw north-west of the frozen well, at the 

 side of the lane leading out of the main road, — the water at top 

 stood at 54° F., and that at the bottom at 50°. 



" 2. A similar spring about 12 ft. deep, 3 or 4 rods west of No. 

 1, showed a temperature of 50° in water drawn from the bottom. 



"3. In a shallow spring at some distance south-west of the 

 frozen well, in lower ground, and apparently near the limit of the 

 drift, the water stood at 48° F. A deep well in the mica slate 

 formation, about half a mile west, stood at 45° F." 



This well is of great interest at the present time, acting as it 

 does upon the principle of Bunsen's tilterer, now attracting atteu- 



