[shmerl]

He could know that from someone else. But from whom - is a separate question.

[StavrosK]

And a useless one. The question is "how did the person who measured it measure it", who reports it isn't that interesting or relevant.

[shmerl]

I'd say not useless, but pointless, since we don't have information about that.

[StavrosK]

Yes, good point.

[chubbard]

But an article about antique dimensional analysis is just not on the same level in difficultly or interest as how someone observed a natural phenomenon and explained it with empirical evidence.

[shmerl]

Whether it's interesting or not to someone - is their choice. It's interesting for me as a historical example.