WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 9 



It should be kept in mind that these equivalents are only approxi- 

 mate. A drop is not a minim and varies greatly with the character 

 of the fluid, and of the container from which dropped; there may 

 be from 44 drops of syrup of acacia, to 250 drops of chloroform to 

 the drachm. Teaspoons vary from % to 2 drachms, dessert spoons 

 vary so greatly that they should not be used. Tablespoons, wine- 

 glasses and tumblers also vary. 



It is usual in figTiring prescriptions to figure from 6 to 8 tea- 

 spoonfuls to the ounce, a tablespoonful as one-half ounce and in 

 writing prescriptions these factors should always be taken into ac- 

 count so that the druggist will be able to use a bottle which will 

 hold just the amount desired. Their bottles are i/g ounce, one ounce, 

 two, three, four, six, eight and sixteen ounces. 



METRIC SYSTEM 



This is based upon the decimal system. The unit of measure 

 of distance of the metric system is the meter (M.) (39.37 inches). 

 The meter is divided into 10, 100 and 1000 parts, called respectively, 

 decimeter, dm. ; centimeter, cm. ; and millimeter, mm. 



The unit of measure of capacity is the liter, 1. It is equal to 

 the contents of a cube whose edges measure a decimeter and the 

 thousandth part of this is a milliliter (mil) formerly called a cubic 

 centimeter (c.cm. or e.c). The unit of weight is the Gramme (fre- 

 quently written gram) which is the weight of one milliliter of water 

 at 4° Centigrade (39.2° F.). 



Greater or less quantities are designated by adding prefixes to 



the above. 



TABLE OF METEIC WEIGHTS 



1 milligram = 0.001 



10 milligrams = 1 centigram (eg.) 0.01 



10 centigrams = 1 decigram (dg.) 0.1 



10 decigrams =■ 1 gram (gm.) 1. 



10 grams = 1 Dekagram (Dg.) 10. 



10 Dekagrams = 1 Hectogram (Hg.) 100. 



10 Hectograms = 1 Kilogram (Kg.) 1000. 



TABLE OF METEIC MEAStTEES 



0.001 



1 milliliter (mil) = 



10 milliliters (mils) = 1 centiliter (cl.) 0.01 



10 centiliters = 1 deciliter (dl.) 0.1 



10 deciliters = 1 I'lter (L.) 1. 



10 Sters = 1 Dekaliter (DL.) 10. 



in Dekaliters = 1 Hectoliter (HL.) 100. 



wSeSSs = 1 Kiloliter (KL.) 1000. 



In the above tables of weights and measures the kilogramme is 

 used in commerce and Is referred to as a Kilo. The gram, fractions 



