Re: Info request-European Physics/science Museums

[sample@lyon.edu (John D. Sample)]

> To what end was it removed? (This is too weird -- I plan to take all
> my appendages to the grave).
>
> > At 11:13 AM 6/5/96 EST, Paul Camp wrote:
> > > Galileo's middle finger???
> >
> > Yes  -  it was removed by a surgeon after his death.  You can take a look at
> > it via the JPL Galileo web site if you're not up for a trip to Italy!  I
> > forget the URL, but you can find it from the top via  www.jpl.nasa.gov
> > George Spagna
>
> Paul J. Camp                   "The Beauty of the Universe
> Assistant Professor of Physics  consists not only of unity
> Coastal Carolina University     in variety but also of
> Conway, SC   29526              variety in unity.
> pjcamp@csd1.coastal.edu             --Umberto Eco
> (803)349-2227                         The Name of the Rose
> fax: (803)349-2926

I'm no expert on this stuff, but I have the impression that displaying body
parts like souvenirs was fairly common.  In Munich I went through the
Residence and there was a room filled with fingers, skulls, a dead baby,
etc.  Most of it was brought back by crusaders and was claimed to belong to
various saints, and the baby was claimed to be one of the innocents
slaughtered after Christ's birth.  Very weird stuff as Johnny would say, at
least in this day and age.

Chip

J. D. Sample                          (501) 698-4625
Math-Physics Dept                     sample@lyon.edu
Lyon College
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