Old apothecary jars. Photo courtesy the Herb Garrett, London.

I’ve been chatting about some old herbal recipes from books such as Slack’s Herbal and Bowker’s “Valuable Herbal Prescriptions” over on the Herb Society forum. Many of the recipes in these old books have drachm, scruple, minim and grain weights in them.  Until now I’ve never got my head around these old weights and measures and figured other people may feel the same? So here is a list of old weights, measures and equivalents taken from Harold Wards “Herbal Manual” from 1936.

Apothecaries Measures of Mass

1 Grain = 0.0648 gramme
20 Grains = 1 Scruple
3 Scruples = 1 Dracham
8 Drachams = 1 Ounce

Measure of Capacity

1 Minim = 0.0592 millilitres
60 Minims = 1 Fluid Dracham
8 Fluid Drachams = 1 Fluid Ounce
20 Fluid Ounces = 1 PInt
8 Pints = 1 Gallon

Equivalents In Domestic Doses

1 Minim = 1 Drop
1 Dracham = 1 Teaspoonful
2 Dracham’s = 1 Dessertspoonful
4 Drachams (1/2 Fluid Ounce) = 1 Tablespoonful
1 1/2 - 2 Fluid Ounces (3-4 Tablespoonsful) = 1 Wineglassful
4-5 Fluid Ounces (8-10 Tablespoonsful) = 1 Teacupful