Doses, weights, measures.
Explanation.
Preparations marked thus * are not official in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia of 1890.
The Doses given are for adults; for children the following rule (Young's) will be found the most convenient. Add 12 to the age, and divide by the age, to get the denominator of the fraction, the numerator of which is 1. Thus, for a child two years old, (2+12) / 2 = 7 and the dose is one-seventh of that fur an adult. Of powerful narcotics scarcely more than one half of this proportion should be used. Of mild cathartics, two or even three times the proportion given may be employed.
For Hypodermic Injection, the dose should be three-fourths of that used by the mouth; by rectum five-fourths of the same.
Pronunciation—Attention is particularly directed to the accentuation of words commonly mispronounced; as for example, acètas, átropa, chimáphila (kima), chlòridum, codèia, conìum, énema, iódidum, radìcis, rícinus, sinàpis, syrùpus, éczema, umbilìcus, abdòmen, bròmidum, páresis.
The Sign ( ? ) after a preparation signifies that it is of doubtful utility; after a statement of physiological action, that the question is disputed and as yet unsettled.
Weights and Measures.
Apothecaries' or Troy Weight
| Pound. | Ounces. | Drachms. | Scruples. | Grains. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lb. | ℥. | ʒ. | ℈. | gr. |
| 1 = | 12 = | 96 = | 288 = | 5760 |
| 1 = | 8 = | 24 = | 480 | |
| 1 = | 3 = | 60 | ||
| 1 = | 20 |
Apothecaries' or Wine Weight
| Gallon. | Pints. | Fl'ounces. | Fl'dr'ms. | Minims. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. | O. | f℥. | fʒ. | ♏︎. |
| 1 = | 8 = | 128 = | 1024 = | 61440 |
| 1 = | 16 = | 128 = | 7680 | |
| 1 = | 8 = | 480 | ||
| 1 = | 60 |
Metric Weights.
| 1 Milligramme, | 0.001 | = gr. | 1/64 |
| 1 Centigramme, | 0.01 | = gr. | ⅙ |
| 1 Decigramme, | 0.1 | = gr. | 1 ½ |
| 1 Gramme, | 1 | = gr. | 15.432 |
| 1 Kilogramme, | 1000. | = lbs. | 2.7 |
Approximate Equivalents.
| 1♏︎ or 1 grain, | = | 0.06 | gramme. |
| 1 fʒ or 1 ʒ | = | 4. | grammes. |
| 1 f℥ | = | 30. | grammes. |
| 1 ℥ | = | 31. | grammes. |
| 1 f℥ Glycerin, | = | 37. | grammes. |
| 1 f℥ Syrups, | = | 40. | grammes. |
A Compend of Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Prescription Writing, 1902, by Sam'l O. L. Potter, M.D., M.R.C.P.L.
