Definition:Apothecaries' Weights and Measures/Mass

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Definition

The apothecaries' system is one of the three imperial systems of measurement of mass.

Its units are defined as follows:


Grain

The grain is the imperial unit of mass which is used as the basis of all three of the imperial weight systems.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) grain
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac 1 {437 \cdot 5}\) ounce avoirdupois
\(\ds \) \(\approx\) \(\ds 64 \cdotp 8\) milligrams


Scruple

The scruple is an apothecaries' unit of mass.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) scruple
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 20\) grains
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 1 \cdotp 3\) grams


Drachm

The drachm is an apothecaries' unit of mass.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) drachm
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 3\) scruples
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 60\) grains
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 3 \cdotp 89\) grams


Ounce

The apothecaries' ounce is an apothecaries' unit of mass.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) apothecaries' ounce
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 8\) drachms
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 24\) scruples
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 480\) grains
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 1\) troy ounce
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 31 \cdotp 1\) grams


Pound

The apothecaries' pound is an apothecaries' unit of mass.

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds 1\) apothecaries' pound
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 12\) apothecaries' ounces
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 5 \, 760\) grains
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 373 \cdotp 24\) grams
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds 1\) troy pound


Also see


Linguistic Note

An apothecary is a medical professional who specialises in formulating and dispensing materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients.

The modern counterpart is pharmacist (also referred to as a (dispensing) chemist in British English).

However, in some languages and regions the word apothecary can still be found referring to a retail pharmacy or a pharmacist who owns one.

Thus the apothecaries' system of weights and measures focuses largely on small weights and volumes, where the materials being exchanged were renowned for being dispensed in tiny amounts.


The word apothecary derives from the Ancient Greek word ἀποθήκη (apothḗkē), meaning repository or storehouse.

The word migrated via the Latin apotheca, also meaning repository, storehouse or warehouse, to the Medieval Latin apothecarius, meaning storekeeper, and eventually to the Old French apotecaire.


Sources