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Experiments and Observations on the Temperature of Artesian 

 Springs or Wells, in Mid-Lothian, Stirlingshire, and Clack- 

 mannanshire. By Robert Paterson, M. D., M. W. S. 

 Communicated by the Author,* 



The conditions which are necessary for the production of 

 those interesting reservoirs of water, commonly called Artesian 

 springs or wells, are, first a more or less basin-shaped condi- 

 tion of the strata, and secondly an alternation in these strata 

 of rock, some pervious and others impervious to water. Such 

 conditions are most prominently possessed by our coal-mea- 

 sures, which are in general basin-shaped, and consist of alternat- 

 ing layers of sandstone, which is the pervious rock, and strata 

 of coal, shale, and ironstone, which are impervious to water. 



Coal being the object of most general search amongst pro- 

 prietors in this country, its presence has been long ascertained 

 by making perforations into these strata. In the course of 

 these borings, it frequently happens that, after passing through 

 a series of layers which are impervious to water, they come 

 upon one from which it exudes abundantly, occasionally spout- 

 ing to a considerable height from the mouth of the bore. 



Thus, in an instance which Mr Johnston of Meadow Bank, 

 near Falkii-k, has been kind enough to communicate to me, 

 upon boring to the depth of 414 feet from the bottom of one 

 of his coal-pits, the rush of water was so great as nearly to in- 

 undate the pit, and was with gi'eat difficulty stopped for a 

 time by inserting a wooden plug into the mouth of the bore. 

 This, however, also proved insufficient, the plug being ex- 

 pelled with great force by the upward pressure of the water. 

 The number of these springs throughout Scotland is now consi- 

 derable, and, since public attention has been turned to them 

 by M. Arago f and others, and more especially to the fact 

 that they are the surest m^ans of deducing the rate of increase 

 of the internal temperatm*e of the earth, they possess an addi- 

 tional interest. It is with the view of bringing together a 

 number of interesting facts which have come under om' notice 



• Read before the Werueriau Natiu-al History Society, 12th Jan. 1839. 

 t See Professor Jameson's Journal, vols. i. xviii. xix. xxiii. xxiv. 



