630 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. 
and measures in volumetric testing, and if chemists and druggists would adopt 
that method of conducting those and other similar operations, the practice of 
doing so would soon render them familiar with the system. 
It has been proposed that in the Pharmacopoeia, in addition to the weights 
and measures now specified in the processes, the metrical equivalents should 
also be given, with the view of showing the relationship existing between the 
values of the terms used in the two systems. I am not prepared to say that 
this might not with advantage be done in some cases where integral quantities 
can be expressed, and simple relationship shown ; but to do it in all cases would, 
I think, encumber the descriptions of the processes without producing an 
adequate amount of good. Indeed, I am not sure that such an array of figures 
as the carrying out of this suggestion would necessitate would not tend more to 
involve the subject in confusion than to supply any useful information. 
Among the propositions that have been recently made in connection with this 
subject is one which, coming from so high an authority as the Master of the 
Mint, is entitled to special attention. Mr. Graham, as is well known, is a 
member of the Standards Royal Commission, and the proposition I allude to has 
been submitted to the commission in the following form:— 
Standards Commission, 1869. 
Paper delivered by the Master of the Mint , 6th March , 1869. 
The use of troy weights appears to be now confined to the Mint and Bank of England, 
the bullion trade, and jewellers. I have to propose that troy weight should be abolished, 
and the metric system of weights established in its place. 
It is in their relations with the bullion trade that the Mint and Bank are now required 
to employ troy weight. In neither establishment would the change to metric weights 
be attended with difficulty. In the Mint the metric system has been already employed 
on the occasion of a large issue of copper “ cash ” to Hongkong and China. Each of 
these small pieces weighed one gram ; and accordingly 1000 cash, which were equal in 
value to a dollar, weighed a kilogram. The convenience of the system for packing the 
coin was most obvious, 50 kilograms, or 50 dollars’ value, being placed in each box. 
The large bullion dealers, who reside chiefly in London, are already familiar with 
metric weights, their foreign business being very considerable. Their account keeping 
would be rendered uniform and simplified by the change. 
Jewellers are, generally speaking, well informed, and their usual customers, it may be 
presumed, are of the educated class. The relation of jew r ellers to the assaying of gold 
and silver has already made them familiar w r ith computations of some difficulty. The 
transition to the metric weights would be comparatively easy to them. The cost of new 
weights w r ould be small, probably not more than £1 in each business on an average. 
It would be desirable further to require assays of the precious metals to be alw r ays 
expressed decimally, as is already done for the Bank of England. This is necessary 
from, the present application of the grain and carat in stating assays. The decimal ex¬ 
pression of composition divests the subject of all obscurity. 
The advantages which would be immediately gained by this practical application of 
metric weights would be the effective introduction of the system to the general notice 
of the public. It would probably also ensure the teaching of the subject in books upon 
arithmetic, even of the most elementary character. 
The introduction of metric weights into pharmacy would possibly follow after no 
great interval of time. The metric system was indeed very nearly being adopted a few 
years ago, on the occasion of the transition from troy to avoirdupois weight. The 
enlightened character of the medical profession, and its thorough organization under 
the Medical Representative Council and the Pharmaceutical Society, would enable such 
a change to be made at any time with ease and effect, whilst its influence in diffusing 
widely a knowledge of the new system would be invaluable. 
It may be inferred from this communication that no general or very exten¬ 
sive change in relation to our weights and measures is likely to be recommended 
