Measurement of Weight 53 



16 drams (dr.) = 1 ounce (oz.) 



16 oz. = 1 pound (Ib.) 



14 Ib. = 1 stone (st.) 



2 st. =1 quarter (qr.) 



4 qr. =1 hundredweight (cwt.) 



20 cwt. = 1 ton. 



The standard unit of weight in the Metric System 

 is that of the "kilogram", a lump of platinum kept 

 at the Archives in Paris. This was constructed so as 

 to have the same weight as a cubic decimetre of pure 

 water when weighed at its temperature of maximum 

 density about 3*9 C. The thousandth part of a 

 kilogram is termed the " gram " and the Metric table 

 of weights is as follows : 



10 milligrams (mg.) = 1 centigram 



10 centigrams = 1 decigram 



10 decigrams = 1 gram (g.) 



10 grams = 1 decagram 



10 decagrams = 1 hectogram 



10 hectograms = 1 kilogram (Kg.) 



10 kilograms = 1 myriagram. 

 One kilogram = 2- 2 Ib. (approximately). 



It will be again observed that the Metric table 

 excels in simplicity as compared with our own, and 

 further, that a fairly simple relation has been estab- 

 lished between the units of length and of weight by 

 the adoption of a standard substance pure water 

 in determining the standard of weight. No such 

 simple relation was established in the British System, 

 although it is useful to remember that a cubic foot of 

 water weighs almost exactly 1000 ounces. 



