2C4 
Editorial. 
f  Am  Jour.  Pharm. 
1      April,  1877. 
topics  will  be  read  with  profit  and  interest,  and  the  gleanings  and  selections  from 
'foreign  and  domestic  journals  cover  a  wide  range  of  observation  and  research. 
Fluid  Weights  in  Prescriptions.— Mr.  Alfred  B.  Taylor,  has  written,  under 
"this  title,  a  very  valuable  paper,  which  is  published  in  the  "  Medicai  and  Surgical 
Reporter,"  Feb.  24.  A  point  which  has  been  often  overlooked,  is  discussed  by 
■.noting  "  that  whether  the  ultimate  system  of  conversion  comprise  the  substitution  of 
weights  for  volumes,  or  of  one  order  of  weights  for  another  order,  no  necessity 
•exists  (excepting  for  purposes  of  rigid  comparison)  for  preserving  exact  translations 
cr  precise  equivalents  of  proportion.  It  is  quite  sufficient  that  good  approximations 
to  established  values  be  attained.  Physiologically  and  therapeutically  there  can  be 
no  very  accurate  determination  of  the  mathematical  value  of  an  average  effective 
dose  of  any  agent ;  and  no  reason  can  be  assigned  for  regarding  one  grain  of  opium 
(for  example)  as  a  medium  sedative  dose,  rather  than  \}  of  a  grain,  except  its  con- 
venience, by  our  existing  notation.  This  consideration  is  calculated  to  prevent  a 
large  amount  of  superfluous  labor  and  anxiety  likely  to  be  bestowed  by  some  on 
very  minute  determinations  of  metrical  equivalents. " 
It  may  be  most  convenient  for  physicians  who  are  accustomed  to  prescribe  by 
measure  to  follow  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Taylor,  by  prescribing  all  medicinally 
active  preparations  by  weight,  and  ordering  the  addition  of  an  adjuvant  to  a  deter- 
minate fluid  volume.  In  former  papers  we  have  shown  that  in  most  countries  it  is 
the  universal  custom  to  prescribe  and  dispense  by  weight  only,  and  we  do  not  believe 
that  there  the  patients  had  just  cause  for  complaint  about  inaccuracies.  In  reality, 
the  trouble  of  fixing  the  dose  of  mixtures  is  by  no  means  as  great  as  is  often  imag- 
ined, as  we  endeavored  to  show  before  ;  still  as  a  compromise  for  those  who  cannot 
altogether  abandon  old.  habits,  the  plan  is  a  good  one,  but  we  should  like  to  see  it 
coupled  with  the  efforts  of  educating  the  medical  student  and  young  practitioner  into 
the  habit  of  abandoning  measures  altogether  in  his  prescriptions,  as  was  formerly 
also  the  practice  in  Great  Britain. 
The  suggestion  of  Mr.  Taylor  to  abandon  in  medicine  the  term  cubic  centimeter 
"for  flui-gram  would  prove  of  considerable  convenience  if  measures  were  perpetuated 
an  prescribing  and  dispensing,  which,  we  think,  will  not  be  the  case.  Regarding  the 
approximate  measurement  of  doses,  Mr.  Taylor  suggests  the  following; 
In  order,  however,  to  remedy  the  very  irregularity  which  now  exists  from  the  uncertain  capacity  of 
the  common  teaspoon,  it  would  be  very  desirable  that  a  medicinal  spoon  of  uniform  and  standard  capacity 
should  be  authoritatively  and  generally  adopted.  Were  the  "  Metric  "  weights  established,  spoons  accu- 
rately made  to  hold  exactly  four  flui-grams  might  very  properly  be  called  "  metri-spoons,"  and  would 
prove  a  great  convenience  both  to  the  physician  and  to  his  patient.  They  should  be  manufactured  both 
in  glass  and  metal ;  and  for  facility  of  movement  without  spilling,  as  well  as  for  greater  accuracy  in  fill- 
's ng,  the  bowls  of  such  medicinal  spoons  should  be  deeper  and  more  spheroidal  than  those  in  common  use  . 
For  larger  dcses  than  the  teaspoonful  but  a  single  additional  measure  would  be  required  to  complete 
the  dome.-tic  equipment,  a  substitute  for.  the  very  uncertain  two-ounce  "wine-glass."  A  glass  vessel 
somewhat  of  the  form  of  the  apothecaries'  two-ounce  graduate,  accurately  marked  to  show  the  capacity 
of  17.314  fluid  drachms,  might  be  called  a  "  metri-glass."  Its  capacity  would  be  in  excess  of  the  double 
fluid  ounce  by  f  5i%  ;  and  if  graduated  to  eighths,  its  lowest  division  would  represent  the  double  "  metri- 
s  poon."  This  useful  vessel,  would,  therefore,  comprise  the  equivalents  of  the  double  teaspoon  or  dessert- 
spoon, the  tablespoon,  the  double  tablespoon,  and  the  wine-glass. 
These  two  terms,  "  metri-spoon,"  and  "  metri-glass,"  would,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  soomcomc 
Jo  signify  the  abstract  measure,  as  well  as  the  concrete  implement;  rendering  the  use  of  the  suffix  "  ful  " 
