Definition:Apothecaries' Weights and Measures
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.