to make one pennyweight, 20 pennyweights one ounce, and 12 ounces one pound. But in later times, it was thought sufficient to divide the same pennyweight into 24 equal parts, still called grains, being the least weight now in common use; and from hence the rest are computed." 20 grains Apothecaries Weight. make 1 scruple, marked sc. or By this weight Apothecaries mix their medicines, but buy and sell by Avoirdupois. Almost all coarse goods are weighed by this weight, and also all metals excepting gold and silver. By a late law of Massachusetts, the cwt. contains 100 lbs. instead of 112 lbs. NOTE. "The original standard of English long measure, was a barley-corn taken from the middle of the ear and well dried. Three of these in length were called an inch. Square Measure.* 144 square inches m'ke 1 square foot, marked ft. 9 square feet 301 square yards 272 square feet This measure is applied to corn, fruit, salt, coals, etc. The standard gallon, dry measure, contains 268 cubic inches. Used to measure ale, beer, cider, milk, etc. By a law of Massachusetts) the barrel for cider and beer shall contain 32 gallons. The ale gallon, contains 282 cubic or solid inches. Number of days in each month. September, April, June and November 30 each; February 28; all others 31 each. Once in four years February has 29 days, the year being called Bissextile or Leap year. The additional day is made up of the day-the year having 365 days. 12 signs or 360° the circle of the zodiac. |