60 minims (m.) = 1 fluid dram (m. lx. or f. 3)
8 fluid drams = 1 fluid ounce (fl. drm. viij. or f. 3)
16 fluid ounces = 1 fluid pint (fl. oz. xvj. or 0.)
= 1 gallon (Cong.)

8 pints

The apothecaries' ounce contains 480 grains.
The apothecaries' pound contains 5760 grains.

THE METRIC SYSTEM OF MEASURES

The Metric System of measures is used by many nations. In the United States its use is permissive, but not compulsory.

The primary unit of the metric system is the meter. (The meter equals 39.37 in., nearly.)

The decimal parts of each standard unit are indicated by Latin prefixes, thus: milli, meaning .001; centi, meaning .01; deci, meaning.1. The multiples of each standard unit are indicated by Greek prefixes, thus: deka, meaning 10; hekto, meaning 100; kilo, meaning 1000. In writing abbreviations of the units in each measure, fractional parts of the standard unit are indicated by small letters; multiples by capital letters.

In the following tables the units most commonly used are indicated by blackfaced type.

LINEAR MEASURE

The standard unit of linear measure is the meter.

10 millimeters (mm.) = 1 centimeter (cm.)

10 centimeters

10 decimeters

10 meters

10 dekameters

10 hektometers

10 kilometers

= 1 decimeter (dm.)

=

1 meter (m.)

= 1 dekameter (Dm.)
= 1 hektometer (Hm.)

= 1 kilometer (Km.)
= 1 myriameter (Mm.)

1 centimeter = .01 of a meter; 1 kilometer

SQUARE MEASURE

= 1000 meters.

The units of square measure are obtained by squaring the units of linear measure. The standard unit is the square meter.

100 square millimeters (sq. mm.) = 1 square centimeter (sq. cm.)

The units of cubic measure are obtained by cubing the units of linear measure. The standard unit is the cubic meter.

1000 cubic millimeters (cu. mm.) = 1 cubic centimeter (cu. cm.) = 1 cubic decimeter (cu. dm.)

1000 cubic centimeters

1000 cubic decimeters

In measuring wood,

= 1 cubic meter (cu. m.)

1 cubic meter = 1 stere (st.)

CAPACITY MEASURE

The standard unit of capacity measure is the liter, which is equal in volume to a cubic decimeter.

10 milliliters (ml.) = 1 centiliter (cl.)

1 centiliter = .01 of a liter; 1 hektoliter = 100 liters.

WEIGHT MEASURE

The standard unit of weight is the gram; this is the weight of a cubic centimeter of distilled water at its maximum density. Our 5-cent piece weighs 5 grams.

10 milligrams (mg.) = 1 centigram (cg.)

1 centigram = .01 of a gram; 1 kilogram, commonly called a kilo (K.),

=

1000 grams.

The following shows the interrelation of the different measures: 1 milliliter of water 1 cubic centimeter in volume =

=

1 gram in

1 cubic decimeter in volume = 1 kilogram in