The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. XXI. Of weights and measures, and the notes of both of them.

EVery weight ariseth from a beginning and foundation, as it were; for as * 1.1 our bodies doe arise of the foure first simple bodies or elements, into which they are often resolved: so all weights do arise from the graine, which is as it were the beginning and end of the rest. Now hereby is * 1.2 understood a barly corne or graine, and that such as is neither too dry, or overgrowne with •…•…uldi•…•…ss•…•…r rancide, but well conditioned, and of an indif∣ferent bignesse.

Ten graines of these m•…•… •…•…bolus; two Oboli, or twenty graines make a scru∣ple, * 1.3 three scruples, or sixt•…•… graines make a dramme, eight drammes make one ounce, twelve oune•…•…ake one pound medicinall, which is for the most part the greatest waight used•…•… Physitians, and which they seldome exceed; and it is resolved into ounces, dr•…•…mes, scruples, oboli and graines, which is the least weight. To expresse these weights we use certaine notes, the pound is expressed by this note, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. the ounc•…•… this, ℥. the drammethus, ʒ. the scruple thus, ℈. the obolus with the begin∣ning•…•… •…•…ter thus, obol. the graine with his beginning letter thus, g. But sometimes we me•…•…e the quantity of medicines by measures and not alwaies by weights; and th•…•…fore we expresse a handfull by this note, m. a pugill thus, p. number thus, n. and the halfe part of every weight and measure is expressed by this note, ss. put after eve∣ry note of the aforesaid weights and measures of the same sort, as the halfe pound,

lb ss. the halfe ounce, ℥ ss. and so of the rest. Moreover, in describing the same medi∣cament wee use the notes sometimes of weights, sometimes of measures; and there∣fore it is to bee noted that herbes, greene or dry, are signed with these notes, m. p. but those which are dry and be brought to powder, with these notes, ℥. ʒ. p.

Roots, Barks, Seeds, Fruits,

by these notes,

℥. ʒ. p. m. ℥. ʒ. ℥. ʒ. an. p. ℥. ʒ. ℈. p. m. ℥. ʒ. p. ℥. ʒ.

All other medicaments either dry or liquid, are described with these notes, lb. ℥. ʒ. ℈. obol. g.

Having expounded these things, let us come to the description of compound medi∣cines, beginning with glysters first, as the remedy which is most common and fa∣miliar, and almost chiefly necessary of all others.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A graine the beginning of all weight.
• * 1.2

  What is meant by agraine.
• * 1.3

  Obolus. A scruple. A dramme. An ounce. A pound.