1887.] 



345 



Table of Capacity Measure. 



[Taylor. 



Our language is unfortunately but very poorly supplied with terms ex- 

 pressive of capacity ; and as the existing names for the smaller liquid 

 measures used by the apothecary ("fluid-drachm" and "fluid-ounce") 

 are exceedingly objectionable, from their reference to the incongruous 

 standard of weiglit, we are compelled to reject them, although we have 

 no appropriate denominations to substitute. The word "morsel" is per- 

 haps sufliciently indeterminate to answer the purpose ; and the Roman 

 ligula, a small measure of about a spoonful, supplies a convenient term, 

 having the same recommendation. The "cup," which is equally indefi- 

 nite, represents about a half-ounce. The AIocUus of the Romans was 

 about the quarter of a bushel ; the term has been selected as a suitable 

 one for indicating a standard measure, and also as suggesting its dimen- 

 sioo, as the cube of the Module. The circumstance that.it is here applied 

 to a much larger volume tlian it was originally is comparatively unim- 

 portant. 



As referred to our common table of "dry measure," as it is called, the 

 new "quart" is equal to 1.79 pints ; the "octa" is equal to 7 quarts and 

 one-third of a pint, or about one-twelfth less than a peck ; the new " Mo- 

 dius" contains 3849.8 cubic inches, and is therefore equal to one bushel, 

 3 pecks, 1 quart and half a pint, or to very nearly If bushels, the U. S. 

 bushel containing 3150.4 cubic inches; the new "pipe" is equal to 14 

 bushels, 1 peck, 2 quarts and half a pint, and the new " butt " is equal to 

 114 bushels, 3 pecks and 3 quarts. 



In the French measures our "quart" is very nearly equal to the litre, 

 being .9855 of a litre; our "octa " = 7.884 litres, and our " Modius " = 

 63 litres. 



It may not be out of place to mention here (as exhibiting an interesting 

 and very early anticipation of our octonary scale of measures in England) 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS, SOC. XXIV. 126. 2r. PRINTED DEC. 3, 1887. 



