ON THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES USED IN PHARMACY. 219 
British metrology was found to be full of disorder and inconsistency. The 
French metric system was held to be incomparably better than any other system 
which has as yet been brought into practical use; but it also was found to have 
its faults. The octavial system was recommended as superior to any other for 
practical use, even when combined with decimal arithmetic, and was held to have 
advantages also for purposes of calculation, if combined with an octavial system 
of expressing numbers. 
The present paper may be regarded as a continuation of the subject, but is 
more limited in its scope, as it principally treats of pharmaceutical weights and 
measures. 
My first object is to compare the apothecaries’ weights of our own country 
with those of other civilized nations; then to review what changes have been 
proposed ; and to conclude with a consideration of future changes, briefly taking 
cognizance of weights and measures for general as well as pharmaceutical use. 
Looking over the weights and measures used in Europe, we find about forty 
different pounds and almost as many different ounces, most of which are esta¬ 
blished by the laws of the land in which they are used.* Pharmaceutical weights 
do not take such multiform proportions, some two or three systems being pretty 
widely used, and, on the other hand, the discrepancies between the different sys¬ 
tems are often not so great. 
For example, the Nuremberg weights used by the German States are divided 
as the English, but are a little less than 5 per cent, lighter. Swedish pharma¬ 
ceutical weights are also divided in the same way, but are about 5 per cent, 
lighter than the English. Swiss pharmaceutical weights are divided in the 
same way, but are still a little lighter ; and the Prussian a little more than 5 
per cent, lighter, but still retaining the same division and the same names, the 
• weight of the pounds in English troy grains being— 
English. 5760 
Nuremberg’ ...... 5520 
Swedish. 5501 
Swiss. 5486 
Prussian.5413 
As the relation between the pound and the smaller weights is retained, the 
English may be used for any of the others without inconvenience. 
The Genoese and Piedmontese weights, using some of the same names, differ 
both in distribution and value, thus :— 
Genoese. English. 
24 grani 
= 1 denario . 
. . 17 grains 
24 denari 
=^1 oncia 
. . 407 
99 
12 oncie 
= 1 libbra . 
. . 4892 
99 
Piedmontese. 
24 granotini 
= 1 grano 
. . 08 
19 
24 grani 
= 1 denario . 
. . 19-8 
*55 
3 denari 
= 1 ottavo . 
. . 59-3 
99 
8 ottavi 
= 1 oncia 
. . 474-4 
99 
12 oncie 
= 1 libbra 
. . 5693*0 
99 
The French metric system, discarding all the old names and old divisors, stands 
thus:— 
French. English grains. 
10 milligrammes = 1 centigramme. . . 0T544f 
* For full particulars see Woolliouse’s ‘Weights and Measures of all Nations,’ from 
which much information has been gathered for this paper. 
f These numbers are only approximative; the gramme being stated in Bedwood’s Sup¬ 
plement as 15-4340234; in Miller’s ‘Chemistry’ as 15"432348 ; in ‘ Chemical News/ May 
31st, 18G2, as 15-432349. 
