Technikatörténeti szemle 10. (1978)

A MÉRÉS ÉS A MÉRTÉKEK AZ EMBER MŰVELŐDÉSÉBEN című konferencián Budapesten, 1976. április 27–30-án elhangzott előadások II. - Wotiz, H. J.–Siegel, e.: Milli Meter

J. H. WOTIZ* — E. SIEGEL** MILLI METER The EVOLUON in Eindhoven, Holland is one of the most spectacular science and technology teaching museum in Europe. It is a regular stop in the SIU-C sponsored History of Chemistry Summer European Travel and Study tours (1). While escorting the participants in the 1975 program through this museum we became aware of a poster of a beautiful woman in the exhibit devoted to the fact that many scientists are immortalized in the name of a unit of measurement, e.g. Volt—Alessandro Volta; Ampere—Andre Ampère. Short biographies in Dutch and English accompany the portraits or photographs of the scientists. The caption under the portrait of the lady read: „Milli Meter. Daughter of an Alsatian woodcutter. Attracted the attention of a passing general and spent several years at court in Paris. Renowned for her beauty. Fell into disgrace after Napoleon's downfall, and died penniless, in Menton. 1794—1872." Although suspicious from the start, several hours were spent in the library at home to get a lead on Milli Meter. After all, we were in Europe to learn something about the history of science, and unexpected information found in the prestigious EVOLUON cannot be lightly dismissed. Eventually written inquiries were directed to the museum's scientific department. Ir. G. Ahsmann informed us that Milli Meter was introduced about nine years ago by the EVOLUON's designer James Gardner, who was of the opinion that in an exhibition devoted to a large number of serious topics, it is necessary to introduce a few items that will make people smile. Mr. Ahsmann does not know the identity of the beautiful lady and only speculates that she could be Catherine Hiibscher, the laundress that became famous in Sardou's play ,

.Madame Sans Gène." Perhaps our readers may have an opinion. Any museum is filled with exhibits that many visitors do not properly view, mostly because of limited time. After just publishing an article on,,Women in Chemistry Before 1900" (2), we were attracted to the poster of a woman wondering if we ommitted someone worthy of inclusion in our publication. One can only wonder how many visitors passing for nine years through the museum knew enough to spot a good and amusing spoof. The word „meter" is derived from the Greek ,,metron" (to measure). Originally it was defined as the length of one-tenth millionth of the earth's meridian quadrant passing through Paris. Even fledgeing scientists should know that at the turn of the * Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. * * Ramey School, Aquadilla, Puerto Rico