Vulcanology in Italy in 1878¹

Abstract

A FEW years ago Cav. Michele Rossi, brother and collaborateur of the well-known author of “Roma Sotterranea,” determined to try the experiment of collecting together from all parts of Italy facts connected with Vulcanology, and publishing an account of them in the form of a monthly fasciculus. He hoped by this means to found a new school for the study of endogenous meteorology, to be affiliated with the study of meteorology proper. The experiment has succeeded admirably, and we have before us a volume of 140 pages, recording all the phenomena of internal telluric dynamics which have been observed in Italy and Sicily during the past year. The rulcanology of Sicily, notably of Etna and the eastern sea-board, is also recorded in the Acts of the Accademia Gioenia of Catania. In no other part of Europe, except Iceland, would it be possible to have a journal solely devoted to the volcanic phenomena of one country. The kingdom of Italy contains within it the two most famous volcanoes in the world; it contains solfataras, soffioni, and maccalube; it is subject to earthquakes, sometimes of great severity, and spread over large areas; the district between Naples and Cape Misenum embraces almost every phase of volcanic phenomenon, excepting only the geysirs, and the Stufe di Nerone belong to this class of effects. Hence, obviously, there is no country of equal accessibility in the world which is so well adapted for the study of vulcanology.