but in later times it was thought sufficient to divide the same pennyweight into 24 equal parts, still called grains, though really a third part greater than the original grain. The pennyweight was so called because it was the weight of the silver penny then in use. Ounce and pound are derived from the Latin. Troy weight was introduced into France about the time of the Crusades, from Cairo, in Egypt. It was first adopted in Troyes, where great fairs were held, and whence it has its name. It is also believed that the word Troy has been derived from the monkish name given to London. The legend avers that Brute, a direct descendant of Æneas, founded the city of London, in 2855 A.M., and called it Trinovantum, corrupted afterwards into Tronevant, or Troynovant. 218. TABLE OF APOTHECARIES' WEIGHT. 20 grains make 1 scruple......... sc. or 3 scruples 1 dram dr. or 3 8 drams 1 ounce oz. or 3 lb. or tb The gr., oz., and lb. are the same as in Troy weight. This weight is employed by apothecaries in mixing up medical prescriptions, though they buy and sell their drugs by avoirdupois weight. The lb. avoirdupois contains 7000 grains, or 14 oz. 11 dwts. 16 grs. Troy, or 1 lb. The lb. Troy=144 lb. av.= 211 drs. = 13 oz. By this weight all heavy and coarse goods are weighed; the imperial pound avoirdupois is defined in an Act of Parliament, which came into operation on the 1st of January, 1826, to be the weight of one-tenth of an imperial gallon, or of 27.7274 cubic inches of distilled water, at the temperature of 62° Fahr., when the barometer is at 30°. The name avoirdupois is derived from avoirs, meaning, in old Norman, goods or chattels, and poids, signifying weight. 7920 660 = 220 = 40=1 mile. 633605280 =1760 =320=8=1 By the act above-mentioned, it was enacted that the yard should henceforth be the standard of length, which is equivalent to 3 feet, or 36 inches. The inch appears to have been originally obtained by putting together 3 grains of barley, and the yard from the length of the arm of Henry I. of England. But in order to have an invariable standard, it has been ascertained that in the latitude of Greenwich the pendulum vibrating seconds is 39.1393. inches ас. Also, 1210 square yards, or 25000 links=1 rood. 4840 square yards, or 100000 links = 1 acre. 40 cubic feet 1 load of rough timber. 227.274 cubic inches,, 1 imperial gallon. A cubic foot of water, at a temperature of 60°, weighs very nearly 1000 ounces. Corn, seeds, roots, fruits, salt, sand, oysters, and such dry goods as are not usually heaped up above the measure of capacity are sold by the above measure. The act states that a gallon contains 277.274 cubic inches. 10 lbs. av. of distilled water, weighed in air at 62° Fahr., the barometer at 30°, will just fill this space; also the imperial bushel contains 2218.192 cubic inches. The measure is to be a cylinder, the internal diameter of which is 18.789 inches, and depth 8 inches. Since coals are sold by weight, this table is of little use. The act directs that the heaped imperial bushel shall contain 2815.4887 cubic inches. 8= 4= 1 tier. 336= 168= 42=1 hhd, 1008 = 2016 504=126=3 =2 = 11=1 ton. 1008=252=6 =4 =3 =2=1 This table is used to measure wines, spirits, cyder, mead, perry, vinegar, oil, honey, &c. |