Definition:Apothecaries' Weights and Measures

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Definition

The apothecaries' (system of) weights and measures is a system of mass and volume units, derived from the Roman system.

They were used by physicians and apothecaries for medical recipes, and also sometimes by scientists.

Although in some cases bearing the same names as their imperial counterparts, the actual units themselves were subtly different in size.


Apothecaries' Weights

Scruple

The scruple is an apothecaries' unit of mass.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) scruple
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 20\) grains
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 1 \cdotp 3\) grams


Drachm

The drachm is an apothecaries' unit of mass.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) drachm
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 3\) scruples
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 60\) grains
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 3 \cdotp 89\) grams


Ounce

The apothecaries' ounce is an apothecaries' unit of mass.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) apothecaries' ounce
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 8\) drachms
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 24\) scruples
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 480\) grains
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 1\) troy ounce
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 31 \cdotp 1\) grams


Pound

The apothecaries' pound is an apothecaries' unit of mass.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) apothecaries' pound
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 12\) apothecaries' ounces
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 5 \, 760\) grains
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 373 \cdotp 24\) grams
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 1\) troy pound


Apothecaries' Volume Measure

Minim

The minim is an apothecaries' unit of volume.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) minim
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 59 \cdotp 19388 \, 02083\) microlitres
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac 1 {60}\) fluid drachm


Fluid Drachm

The fluid drachm is an apothecaries' unit of volume.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) fluid drachm
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 60\) minims
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 3 \cdotp 55163 \, 28125\) millilitres


Fluid Ounce

The fluid ounce is an imperial unit of volume.

It is also part of the apothecaries' system of volume.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) fluid ounce
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 8\) fluid drachms
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac 1 {20}\) (imperial) pint
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 28 \cdotp 41306 \, 25\) millilitres


Pint

The pint is an imperial unit of volume.

It is also part of the apothecaries' system of volume.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) pint (imperial)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 20\) fluid ounces
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 2\) chopins
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 0 \cdotp 5682 \, 6125\) litres
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 568 \cdotp 26125\) millilitres


Also see


Linguistic Note

An apothecary is a medical professional who specialises in formulating and dispensing materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients.

The modern counterpart is pharmacist (also referred to as a (dispensing) chemist in British English).

However, in some languages and regions the word apothecary can still be found referring to a retail pharmacy or a pharmacist who owns one.

Thus the apothecaries' system of weights and measures focuses largely on small weights and volumes, where the materials being exchanged were renowned for being dispensed in tiny amounts.


The word apothecary derives from the Ancient Greek word ἀποθήκη (apothḗkē), meaning repository or storehouse.

The word migrated via the Latin apotheca, also meaning repository, storehouse or warehouse, to the Medieval Latin apothecarius, meaning storekeeper, and eventually to the Old French apotecaire.