616 Analyses of Books. [October, 
concluding passage : — “ If the religion makers of the race had 
been tillers of the soil and growers of fruit, all religions would 
have been what Buddhism is — Pessimistic.” 
The “ eledtric girls ” of the Southern States do not meet with 
credence. “ It has been sufficiently shown that when the 
Georgia wonder — Lulu Hurst — encounters a trained athlete who 
is stronger than herself and equally quick, neither odic force nor 
the spirit of her grandmother has the slightest effedt upon him. 
“ The Index ” evidently contains much that deserves careful 
reading. 
On the Observations of Earth-shakes or Tremors in order to 
Foretell the Issue of Sudden Outbursts of Fire-damp. By 
M. Walton Brown. Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Andrew Reid. 
In this pamphlet, which is a reprint from the “ Proceedings of 
the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical 
Engineers,” we find arguments in favour of the very probable 
theory that sudden outbursts of gases may be occasioned by 
slight tremors of the earth’s crust. That such motions occur, 
and that with considerable frequency, does not require any 
demonstration ; and that the gas liberated in coal-beds will be for 
the most part fire-damp may also be at once admitted. 
The theory, it appears, was first broached by Mr. W. L. 
Wharton as far back as 1845, by occasion of a curious escape of 
gas which he observed taking place from the bed of the river 
Wear. He writes : — “ A line of streams of gas was observed 
crossing the Wear diagonally in the direction N.N.E. and S.S.W. 
under the Framwellgate Bridge and for a length of about 
100 yards. When the air and water were perfectly calm large 
bubbles formed by the ascent' of gas, and taking fire at a lighted 
candle, marked the limits of the streams of gas above the bridge, 
and two other smaller groups of bubbles were seen below the 
bridge. It is believed that there are no coal-workings or excava- 
tions of any kind within several hundred yards of Framwellgate 
Bridge, and the escape of gas must be attributed to some exten- 
sive natural accumulation.” For its sudden liberation, as 
described, scarcely any theory is conceivable except the formation 
of a chink or fissure in the bed of the river by some subterranean 
movement or vibration. It is hence exceedingly probable that 
in the coal-fields outbursts of gas may occur along lines of faults. 
