74 Dr. Moll on the Comparison of 



The Dutch troy weight, as used for weighing bullion and the 

 precious metals in general, has sixteen ounces, but for medical 

 and pharmaceutical purposes, there are twelve ounces in the 

 pound. But the ounces are the same in both cases, and con- 

 tain 480 grains. 



For mint purposes and the weighing of bullion, the division 

 of the Dutch troy was as follows : 



1 lb. Dutch troy=2 merks, 



1 merk=8 ounces 



1 ounce=20 sterlings (English):=480 grains. 



1 sterling=z32 aas. 

 Thus 1 lb. Dutch troy=10240 aas7680 Dutch troy grains. 



=7594.975 British troy grains. 



For medical and pharmaceutic use, the division of the Dutch 

 troy ounce was as follows : 



One Dutch troy ounce=8 drachms =480 grains. 



=1 drachm = 3 scruples=r60 grains. 

 1 scruple;rz20 grains. 



As the British avoirdupois contains 7000 grains, British 

 troy, it is a matter of computation to deduce from thence the 

 relation of the Dutch weight to English avoirdupois. 



1 lb. avoirdupoisrriO . 921 66202 lb. 1 



=14 oz. 14 sterling, 29.8181 aas. ?Dutch troy weight, 

 =7078.3643 grains. J 



and inversely, 



1 lb. Dutch troy =1 .0849964 lb. avoirdupois. 



rrl lb. 1 oz. 5 .75908 drachms avoirdupois. 



In the golden old times of trade, the magistrates of Amster- 

 dam were anxious that the commercial weight of that city 

 should be heavier than that used in other trading -places. 

 Therefore it was established by law, that the Amsterdam com- 

 mercial pound should be 40 aas in the pound heavier than 

 troy weight. In consequence of this regulation, we have the 

 following relations between British and Hollands commercial 

 weights. 



1 lb. avoirdupois . 9180754 lb. Amsterdam weight. 



=14 oz, 1 .37841 lood Amsterdam weight *. 

 1 Ib.Amsterdamrrl. 0892347 lb avoirdupois. 



* The Amsterdam pound is divided into thirty-two parts called looden^ for which 

 1 know of no English corresponding word. 



