Condition of the Earth's Interior. — Seamon. 21 
In another place we find : "It is a cool crust, covering an in- 
candescent interior."* 
Geikie says : "It was formerly a prevalent belief that the 
exterior and interior of the globe differed from each other to 
such an extent that, while the outer parts were cool and solid, 
the vastly more enormous inner intensely hot\ part was more 
or less complete^ liquid." J 
In another place he says : "It appears highly probable that 
the substance of the earth's interior is at the melting point 
proper for the pressure at each depth. Any relief from the 
pressure, therefore, may allow of the liquefaction of the mat- 
ter so relieved. "£ 
Astronomical observations do not admit of a liquid interior, 
and compel the belief that the earth throughout is a rigid 
solid, except in certain localities which are most probably en- 
tirely within the outer crust, made liquid by the heat pro- 
ceeding from chemical changes and mechanical movements 
within this crust. 
There are but two good reasons for believing the earth's 
interior to be highly heated at the present time. 
1. The gradually increasing temperature observed as 
depth in the crust is attained. 
2. The nebular hypothesis requires a former very high 
temperature for the earth, making reasonable the assumption 
that much of this primary heat has been entrapped and re- 
tained beneath the crust. 
The observations made in shafts and borings show an in- 
creasing temperature. But the results are very variable, and 
seem to confirm the impression that this increase may be en- 
tirely due to heat produced by chemical and mechanical ac- 
tion within the crust. 
Those holding to the retention of much primary heat, have 
felt compelled to give reasons why the interior is not in a 
melted condition. The best reason given, the weight, or pres- 
sure of the superincumbent crust, only augments the difficulty 
of the explanation; for while pressure may prevenl actual 
*Le < 'onte's Elements of • teology, page LOG, 
j Italics are t he writer.'s. 
i;Geikie's Texl Book of Geology, second >•.!. (lss.'o. page II. 
SsGeikie's Text Book of Geology, page 55. 
