Understanding the Apothecary System and its Scales

How does the apothecary system work?
The apothecary system, originated as the system of weights and measures for dispensing and prescribing medications. The English version divided a pound into 12 ounces, an ounce into eight drams/drachms, and a dram into three scruples or 60 grains.

A historical unit of measurement used in pharmacy and medicine to measure and dispense medications is called the apothecary system. Up until the middle of the 20th century, it was widely used in the US before being supplanted by the metric system. Despite being outmoded, it is nonetheless crucial for pharmacists to comprehend the apothecary system, especially when working with old medical records.

The main unit of measurement in the apothecary system is the grain. It is based on ratios and proportions. One grain weighs 64.8 milligrams, and is frequently denoted by the symbol “gr.” The scruple (20 grains), dram (3 scruples or 60 grains), ounce (8 drams or 480 grains), and pound (12 ounces or 5,760 grains) are further units of measurement.

These units of measurement were measured out using apothecary scales. These scales had a base with a pillar in the center, a beam resting on the beam, and two pans hanging from the beam’s ends. Weights were put in one pan with the substance to be measured in the other pan until the beam was balanced. Each weight represented a different unit of measurement, and they were frequently fashioned of brass and available in a range of sizes.

Additionally, the pharmacy system had its own set of acronyms that were frequently used to denote a prescription’s dosage and potency. As an illustration, “gr. j” stood for one grain whereas “3ss” stood for three scruples. The abbreviation “ss” stood for “semis,” which is Latin for “half,” and is equal to 30 grains.

The metric system has essentially taken the role of the apothecary system in modern medicine, notwithstanding the former’s historical significance. Although the apothecary method provides for more precise measurements than the metric system, some pharmacists continue to utilize it for mixing medications.

As a result, for many years, pharmacy and medicine adopted the apothecary system as a measurement system. The grain served as its fundamental unit of measurement, and it was based on ratios and proportions. Drugs were measured out in precise amounts using pharmacy scales, and the system had its own set of abbreviations. The apothecary system, though mostly displaced by the metric system, is nonetheless vital for comprehending old medical records and is still employed in some pharmacies for compounding medications.

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