Weights and Measures in the New DISPENSATORY.
- Twenty Grains make a Scruple.
- Three Scruples make a Drachm.
- Eight Drachms make an Ounce.
- Twelve Ounces make a Pound.
THe most usual Measures [amongst us] (quoth the Colledg) are these:
A Spoon which in Syrups holds half an ounce, in distilled Waters three drachms.
A Taster which holds an ounce and an half.
A Congie which (in their former Dispensatory held nine pound, now) holds but eight pound; viz. just a Gallon: To miss but one Pint in a Gallon is no∣thing with a Colledg of Physitians, such Physitians as our times afford. The reason I suppose is, Because most Nations differ in the quantity of their Measures, and they quoted their Congius from one Nation be∣fore, and from another now; for indeed their Di∣spensatory is borrowed a great part of it from Arabia, part from Greece, some from France, some from Spain, and some from Italy, and now they vapor with it. Oh brave! should a man that borrowed his Cloathes from so many Broakers in Long-lane be proud of them?
Besides these, they have gotten another antick way of MENSURATION which they have not set down here, viz. By Handfuls and Pugils. An Handful is as much as you can gripe in one Hand; and a Pu∣gil as much as you can take up with your Thumb and two Fingers; and how much that is who can tell? Intruth this way of Mensuration is as certain as the Weather-cock, and as various as mens Fingers are in length, and the things taken up in driness or form; for an Handsul of green Herbs will not be half an Handsul or not above when they are dry: and your mother-wit will teach you that you may take up more Hay in this manner than Bran, and more Bran than Sand. And thus much for their Weights, and also for their Measures: both rediculous and contradictive.