A universal formulary containing the methods of preparing and administering officinal and other medicines / by R. Eglesfeld Griffith.

  • Griffith, R. Eglesfeld (Robert Eglesfeld), 1798-1850.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A universal formulary containing the methods of preparing and administering officinal and other medicines / by R. Eglesfeld Griffith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    25/670 (page 17)
    INTEODUCTION. Before entering upon the main object of the work, some introductory observations are required, on the forms in which remedial substances are administered, the pro- cesses to be pursued in their preparation, and on the weights and measures employed in the proper apportionment of the ingredients, and in the regulation of the doses to be administered. WEiaHTS AND MEASURES. These vary much in different countries, and even in the same country. Thus, in Great Britain and the United States, there are three standards of weight recognized and employed: the Avoirdupois, the Troy, and the Apothecaries'. Weights op the United States and Great Britain. Avoirdupois Weight. This is the common standard employed in the selling or buying of such articles as are measured by weight, and is also in use among apothecaries in this country, except in the compounding and dispensing of medicines. Eq^ual to troy grains. 1 drachm 27.34375 16= 1 ounce 437.5 256= 16= 1 pound 7000. 3584= 224=' 14= 1 stone 98000. 28672= 1792= 112= 8= 1 hundred weight 784000. 473440=35840=2240=160 = 20 = 1 ton 15680000. In weighing many articles, what is called the short ton, or 2000 pounds, is em- ployed. Troy Weight Is used in the sale of gold, silver, platina, afid precious stones. 1 grain 24= 1 pennyweight 480= 20= 1 ounce 5760=240=12=1 pound. The following are the relative proportions between the troy and the avoirdupois:— One pound troy is equivalent to 0.822857 pound avoirdupois, or 13 ounces, 2 drachm.?, 1 scruple, 8.7 grains. [13 ounces, 72.5 grains.] One ounce troy is equivalent to 1 ounce, 1 drachm, 1 scrapie, 6.225 grains avoir- dupois. One pound avoirdupois is equivalent to 1.215277 pound troy, or 1 pound, 2 ounces, 4 drachms, and 2 scruples. One ounce avoirdupois is equivalent to 7 drachms, 17.5 grains troy. 144 pounds avoirdupois are equivalent to 175 pounds troy. 175 ounces troy are equivalent to 192 ounces avoirdupois. The following table of equivalents in troy and avoirdupois weight, derived from Redwood's edition of Gray's Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia, will be found useful in making these calculations. 2 ' ( 1)