ON THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES USED IN PHARMACY. 
221 
avoirdupois dram ; while a pound of water may be prescribed, but who can tell 
what it means ; for it is frequently dispensed as f^xvi., sometimes as f^xii., 
and neither of these is an apothecaries’ pound ; while we have grains in England 
which are heavier than grains in Ireland or Germany, and lighter than grains 
in Austria, and w T hile we require to make a separate calculation for every quan¬ 
tity mentioned in a French formula, before we can prepare it, or even compare 
it with a formula expressed in English weights,—there certainly are inconveni¬ 
ences in the present arrangement which it is desirable to remove. But even the 
very statement of these inconveniences shows that no change in our own system 
can remove them. If we move towards the Irish, we will be further from the 
Austrian and no nearer the French. If we adopt the metrical weights, unless 
they be used for all purposes, we will find a greater disparity between our dis¬ 
pensing and our dealing than exists at present. No wonder that all the changes 
which have been proposed have been rejected; they were all partial evils, not 
universal good. But to notice more critically several that have been suggested 
with good promise of advantage, I will begin with the remarks of Jacob Bell. 
Nine years ago (‘ Pharmaceutical Journal,’ xiv. p. 444), he said, “ He was quite 
sensible of the existing evil, arising chiefly from the confusion between the troy 
and the avoirdupois weights, but thought it desirable to provide the nearest ap¬ 
proach to a remedy with as little change as possible ; in other words, he would 
prefer a reform to a revolution in the system of weights. He thought the best 
arrangement, under existing circumstances, would be a modification of the troy 
and avoirdupois weights in this manner, making weights and measures cor¬ 
respond :— 
{c 20 grains = 1 scruple. 
3 scruples = 1 dram = 1 fluid dram. 
8 drams = 1 ounce = 1 fluid ounce. 
16 ounces = 1 pound = 1 pint. 
8 pounds = 1 gallon. 
u He would suggest the adoption of this modified scale of weights and mea¬ 
sures for all purposes, either retaining the present grain, and in consequence in¬ 
crease the larger weights, or, adopting the ounce as the starting-point, reduce 
the weight of the grain below its present standard.” 
At the same date, April, 1853, Mr. Griffin advocated a decimal system, founded 
upon the avoirdupois pound ; from which, being 7000 grains, he derives his 
unit of 7 grains, and calls it a baro,—a baro of w r ater being the unit of mea¬ 
sure, under the name of barim. His scale of weights stands thus :— 
10 baros = 1 dram (g more). 
10 drams = 1 ounce more). 
10 ounces = 1 pound. 
10 pounds = 1 stone ( T 4 ? less). 
10 stones = 1 cwt. ( T g less). 
10 cwts. = 1 ton ( T ° T less). 
His scale of measures, thus :— 
10 barims = 1 millim (f- more than f 5 ). 
10 millims = 1 centim (f more than f 5 ). 
10 centims = 1 decim (= 16 f^)- 
10 decims = 1 gallon (the same as at present). 
10 gallons ■= 1 pipe ? ( T b present pipe). 
10 pipes = 1 tun? (about \ present tun). 
The scale of weights is almost the same as the Baden weights, wdiich from the 
pound of 7720 English grains descends decimally to the ass of 0‘7720 grains. 
Griffin’s suggestion has in its favour various good points, such as retaining a 
palpable and readily observed relationship to our present scales of weights and 
