[USMA:35499] Re: Weather channel web site and millibars

[Martin Vlietstra]

Title: Re: [USMA:35492] Re: Weather channel web site and millibars

It seems that the use of millimetres of Mercury is the universal unit of measurement for blood pressure.    When the EU issued its metrication directive in 1980, it effectively said that subject to a few exceptions, SI was to be used for all "commercial, public administration, public health and public safety purposes".  Apart from the exceptions that Mrs Thatcher wrangled out of the EU Commission, one of the exceptions was the use of mm Hg for measuring the pressure of bodily fluids.  Clearly they took the view that since this particular practice was so deeply ingrained in the medical profession and was universal across all member states, it would be prudent to leave it alone.    ----- Original Message ----- From: Pat Naughtin To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 8:56 PM Subject: [USMA:35493] Re: Weather channel web site and millibars Dear Pierre, [... snip ...]   Doctors in Australia still use millimetres of Mercury (but don뭪 call them torrs) to measure blood pressure. I regard this as a form of dangerous insanity. [... snip ...]