THE METRIC SYSTEM. 
59 
preceding scales of length and surface ; but in the latter^ two 
numerals must be set apart to each order, where more than 
one is considered, as in square measure, each order may con- 
tain upwards of 99 units. In the cubic scale, however, we 
must be careful to appropriate 3 ranks of numerals to each 
order when separately considered. An example will illustrate 
this principle. The following quantity 24507638,0750098 m.c. 
can be enunciated as a simple decimal number of one order 
(cubic meter), or we may imagine it partitioned into sections 
of 3 numerals, right and left of the comma, and enunciate 
the whole volume in units of the different orders gradatim. 
Thus: 24 cubic hectometers, 507 cubic decameters, 638 cubic 
meters, 75 cubic decimeters, 9 cubic centimeters, 800 cubic 
millimeters. Or shortly thus : 24 hectom. cub., 507 decam. 
cub., 638 m. cub., 75 decim. cub., 9 centim. cub., 800 mill. cub. 
In France the cubic meter serves to measure stacks of fire- 
wood, and then it is called stere, the multiple of which in use 
is the decastere (10 steres), and the submultiple decistere, and 
even centistere (A, and of the stere) . 
Measures oe Capacity. — The liter (equivalent to If pint 
nearly), is the principal unit of capacity for liquids and grain ; 
its capacity is that of a cubic decimeter. The multiples of the 
liter are : the decaliter, hectoliter, kiloliter, or 10, 100, 1000 
liters. The submultiples are : the deciliter and centiliter, &c., 
or the tenth and hundredth part of the liter. These vases are 
of cylindrical form, and made of tin when destined for liquids ; 
in this case the height of the vase is double the diameter of 
the base. They are made of wood, and the height is equal to 
the diameter of the base, when destined for grain. 
Weights. — The fundamental unity of weight is the gram ; 
the multiples are the decagram, the hectogram, the kilogram, 
or 10, 100, 1000 grams. The subdivisions are the decigram, 
the centigram, the milligram, or the tenth, hundredth, thou- 
sandth part of the gram. The kilogram (equivalent to 24 lbs. 
avoird. nearly), is the weight in vacuo of a decimeter cube of 
distilled water at its maximum of density, i.e., at 4° above 0 
of the centigrade thermom. The standard in platinum of the 
kilogram is deposed in the archives of State in Paris. Since 
the kilogram is the weight of a cubic decimeter or of a hter of 
water, the gram (the thousandth part), is the weight of a cen- 
timeter cube of distilled water at its maximum of density. 
For great weights the quintal (metric) equivalent to 100 kilo- 
grams, is used j and for ships^ cargo the metric ton, equivalent 
to 1000 kilograms. A vessel of one hundred tons is a vessel 
capable of carrying 100 thousand kilograms. Each of the units 
of weight, and also each of the measures of capacity,* has its 
See Plate IV. 
