224 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, and 20. The scruples are almost equally convenient, 18. 
being divisible by 2, 3, 6, and 9,—20 being divisible by 2, 4, 5, and 10. 
The proposition of the American Pharmaceutical Association, unquestionably 
the most carefully considered, the most elaborate, and most ambitious of the pro¬ 
posed plans, is based on the belief, and I think I may say the well-grounded 
belief, that for all practical purposes counting by eights has the greatest sum of 
advantages. It is founded, like the metrical system, on geometrical measure¬ 
ment : a sextant of the equator being 8 times divided by 8, to give their module 
or radical measure of length (15f inches) ; the cube of this measure gives the 
root of the table of capacities, under the name of modius. The weight of a 
modius of water gives the pondus, or root of their system of weights. Their 
proposed tables are as follows :— 
Measures of 
8 minims = 
8 morsels = 
8 ligules = 
8 cups = 
8 gills 
8 pints 
8 gallons = 
8 modiuses - 
8 butts 
8 cords = 
capacity. 
minim 
- 1 morsel 
= 1 ligule 
- 1 cup 
: 1 gill 
; 1 pint 
= 1 gallon 
; 1 modius 
- 1 butt 
= 1 cord 
= 1 vat 
English measures. 
0-488 m. 
3-905 in. 
31-244 m. 
4 ounce (about). 
If pints 
131 pints 
13^ gallons 
106f „ 
850 
6600 
Weights. 
English weights. 
mite 
= 
0*464 grains. 
8 mites 
= 
1 grain 
— 
3-712 
8 grains 
= 
1 scrap 
= 
29-696 
8 scraps 
= 
1 dram 
= 
4 oz. avoirdupois ( 
8 drams 
r= 
1 ounce 
= 
4 oz. 
8 ounces 
= 
1 pound 
= 
2 lb. 2 oz. 
8 pounds 
= 
1 stone 
17 lb. 6 oz. 
8 stones 
= 
1 weight 
= 
139 lb. 
8 weights 
= 
1 load 
= 
11121b. 
• 
5? 
8 loads 
= 
1 ton 
r= 
8896 lb. 
8 tons 
= 
1 keel 
= 
71,175 lb. 
This octonary system cannot be regarded as a proposal for the reformation of 
the weights used in pharmacy, but for revolutionizing the whole system of me¬ 
trology. It does not harmonize with any other system, and its advantages 
would be materially reduced if it met with only partial adoption. 
The compilers of the British Pharmacopoeia have shown their skill in evading 
a difficulty which they could not overcome. They were bound to use such 
weights in the work as would not be liable to be misunderstood ; they have there¬ 
fore adopted avoirdupois ounces and pounds, which are in general use both in 
Great Britain and Ireland, and troy grains, which are also now used in both 
islands. Drams and scruples, which have a different value on the two sides 
of the Irish Sea, are not used in their formula nor acknowledged in their table, 
and their disuse is recommended. But this recommendation is not likely to be 
followed ; drams and scruples will still be used and will have different values 
in the sister isles, so the difficulties will continue till a more potent remedy is 
discovered. 
The metrical system must next claim our consideration, and the advantage o 
adopting it for pharmaceutical purposes will readily be admitted to depend upon 
its adoption, either immediately or at no long interval, for general trade use. 
To attempt its introduction for pharmacy while troy and avoirdupois were still 
authorized for general trade, would lead to inconvenient complications; not, it 
