halni a ee oe i ee) ee 
1884) On the Evidence that the Earth's Interior is Solid. 587 
ON THE EVIDENCE THAT THE EARTH'S INTERIOR 
IS SOLID. 
BY DR. M. E. WADSWORTH. 
T is well known that the facts of geology require some mode 
of escape from the now generally-received opinion that this 
earth is a solid globe. This is especially shown by the introduc- 
tion of so many hypotheses to avoid the logical consequences 
incident upon such a globe. Some of these hypotheses are lakes 
of still unsolidified material ; Masses of readily fusible materials ; 
aqueo-igneous solution of sédiments ; fusion of the earth’s inte- 
rior on the removal of pressure ; a solid crust and a solid core 
with a zone of liquid matter between, etc., etc. All these views 
are simply compromises between the known fact that some part 
of the earth must be liquid in order to account for geological 
phenomena and the Supposed physical and mathematical demon- 
Strations of the earth’s solidity. These compromises are unnec- 
“ssary if it can be shown that the claims for the earth’s solidity 
are not well based. 
facts of petrography likewise seem to the writer to de- 
mand the belief that all eruptive rocks have come from the 
‘arth’s interior, below any of the sedimentary deposits. Also 
that they must have come from material that has either never 
been Solidified or else has been reliquified. 
This Paper has arisen out of the fact that to the writer’s mind 
. “appeared a diversity between the commonly taught hypoth- 
a of the earth's structure and observed petrographical facts. 
therefore undertook an examination of the principal published 
cal x Ms rder to see whether the error resided in the petrographi- 
tions or i i lid earth. 
Tiek or in the data for the hypothesis of a soli 
and it + led to the writing of this paper nearly two years ago, 
now stands essentially unchanged. Its object is to place 
ee thie chief linés-of argument in behalf of á solid 
Sein, t to indicate that geology and petrography have as yet 
ent with eio ume any structure for the earth’s interior consist- 
‘nown facts, without regard to the so-called physical and 
monstrations of its solidity.) 
r de 
, : th ney of the Earth's Solidity derived from Precession and 
a : > 
the Tides—The most prominent of the early advo- 
+ 1883, 1,1 27-150, 
