New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-06
Phi nceton, v. j., Sept. !, 1856.
CONCURRENCE OF sEIsMAL TIDAL AND ATMOS
PHERIC UNDULATIONS.

CONCURRENC E or SElSMAl, TIDAL AND AiMOS-
PHERIC UNDULATIONS.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Several years ago series of observa-
lions we're presented at the French Academy showing
that severe and extended earthquakes accompany high
tides and atmOe nherc disturbances all alike occurring
at full moon, when the attraction OF both sun
and moon is on the same line the EARTH The earth
quake that manifested itself August % ct Charleston
felt its In the Grecian Isles and Italy
the north and Egypt the south, and the day
the eclipse of the sun in the Southern Hemisphere 90
Cured The conclusions reached their climax the
3ls COnsprtng indicate electric and other meteor
illogical agitationa
Like facts were observed by Greek scientsts The
Greek term seisnos used by Herodotus for earth
quake; later the word sesmatias was applied to "a
storm" accompanying earthquake. The concurrence
OF there phenomena noticed by the Greek medical
writer's Dioscordes and Gssn In tho that fovers
run seven fourteen days, coincding with
the quartering OF the moon These facts led to the
suggestion OF supposed cause. The popular excite
ment attending the spherc and seisma asitaions
led the common people to refer them effect
coming from the moon: hence the Greek
term "selenlasmos" for lupacy. and "seIsni-
akos" for lunstic, Dloscorides using them
his medical writings, without, OF course.
committing himself to a theory medical writer's uso
the Latin term unscy and unatic and the rural people
of England the word "moon-struck." So far did the
effect OF the moon. rather OF its lunatons on delicate
and diseased eyes cited BY Yegetus to soldiers on
sentinel duty.
Modern scientists have sought the In the earth,
sun and They have universally agreed that the
continually succeeding tidal waves. undulating from
east wes caused by the attractions Of the sun
and acting in the line at full and moons,
thus causing high tidea Toe accompanying atmos-
pheric undalatoDs leading to so called bebdomal or
ssvsnthdsy storms which also follow the moons action
atmospheric ocean tides, duo 10 Inc
same COMBINED attractions. The French suggestion as
to earthquakes ie prehensve lts Induction 40
Amperes law OF undu ations similarly
caused, which aided TO HenIys discovery and Morses
invention For generations the Internal huidity OF
earth from heat has French and Continental
scientists ruled as demonstrative aud scientific IL has
been doubted especially IN this country only by few;
apd that from an aim outside Of ply steal science.
The facts gathered In have led TO the recent de-
termination on the part OF German physicists 10
test the accepted law by experiment OF
According to this, the earth's crust must be
to undnlatory movement from the az,
be that of coppersheeted globe three feet In diameter
two-tenths OF inch thick, nled win mercury. As
the gretcst ocean depth is supposed TO be nern miles,
whilo most OF It's surface Is less than nvo miles IN
Depth ANAL fraction Of the forty-nve miles, IL Is OF
course the undu OF tho not OF the superficial
coating that causes ocean which stead
iy seem to follow the the earth rovoives
snggestion concurring With An pere's law.
hew York, Sept 2. 1885, OBSERVER