DYNAMICAL GEOLOGY. 2OI 



published in 1887 by Daubree, 1 under the titles of Les eaux 

 sous-terraines a Vepoque actuelle, and Les eaux sous-terraines 

 aux epoques anciennes. They treat in a comprehensive and 

 scientific manner the origin, the geological occurrence, the 

 physical and chemical properties of normal springs, under- 

 ground waters, mineral and thermal springs. In an earlier 

 work, Daubre'e had described the results of his experimental 

 researches on the permeability of different kinds of rock. 

 The famous author was not content with a record of his 

 own wide knowledge and experience of springs, but exhausted 

 all geological and geographical literature on the subject, and 

 even referred to special technical estimates and journals. 

 In the first volume, Daubre'e devoted a chapter to Artesian 

 wells, which he classified according to the geological age 

 of the particular water-bearing strata. He distinguished 

 common or normal springs and thermal springs whose water 

 moves according to hydrostatic laws, from the underground 

 waters forced onward by carbonic acid and other gases, or by 

 vapour. The second volume contains an account of the 

 chemical composition and the temperature of springs and 

 underground water, and this is followed by a discussion of the 

 Earth's heat and the possible significance of the circulation 

 and ingress of water in deep horizons of the crust as a means 

 of inducing volcanism. The last volume treats of the geological 



1 Gabriel August Daubree, born at Metz, studied at the Polytechnic 

 School in Paris ; began his career as a mining engineer in 1834, and was 

 sent to England, Sweden, and Norway on a commission from the Govern- 

 ment. As mining engineer and Professor of Mineralogy and Geology in 

 Strasburg, he devoted his time to the geological relations of Alsace, and 

 published in 1849 a geological map of Lower Alsace, following it in 1852 

 by an excellent geological description of this neighbourhood. During the 

 years 1857-61 Daubree was engaged in leading and collecting the springs 

 of Plombieres, and had opportunities of making important observations 

 on the chemical action of thermal water. These were the basis of his 

 subsequent experimental attempts to determine the geological action of 

 superheated aqueous vapours. In 1 86 1 he became Professor of Geology 

 at the Museum in Paris, and displayed untiring energy in this capacity, at 

 the same time carrying out a brilliant series of experimental researches for 

 which his name will ever remain famous in the annals of geology. From 

 the year 1862 Daubree also taught mineralogy at the School of Mines, 

 and in 1872 he was made Director of that institute. During the last twenty 

 years of his life, lie was a member of the Commission for the publica- 

 tion of the special geological map. Daubree died in Paris on the 29th 

 May 1896. He was throughout his long and active career greatly revered 

 and loved for his amiable disposition and noble, conscientious character. 



