apothecary weights

apothecary weights
   a version of the troy weight system formerly used by apothecaries (pharmacists). The troy pound, equal to 373.242 grams or 13.165 72 avoirdupois ounces, is always divided into 12 ounces, each ounce being equal to 480 grains. In the apothecary system, the ounce is divided into 8 drams (60 grains) each containing 3 scruples (20 grains).
   There is a parallel system of liquid volume measure in which the fluid ounce is divided into 8 fluid drams (or fluidrams) each containing 3 fluid scruples. The apothecary system continued in use into the early twentieth century, but it has been replaced everywhere in pharmacy by the use of metric units. The abbreviation "ap." indicates apothecaries' units, as in "oz. ap." or "dr. ap."

Dictionary of units of measurement. 2015.

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