Measurements in the Organon

[David Little]

Dear Homeolist,

Hahnemann's measurements in the 6th Organon are mostly drops,
coffeespoons, teaspoons and tablespoon. He also mentioned grains. I am
seeking information on pharmaceutical measurements. Today's stand it base
on SI measurement (Systeme Internationale in French) agreed on around the
turn of the 19th century. This is what is used by pharmacies throughout the
word. In this system (SI):

SI measurements:

1. 1 drop is 0.05 of a ML. 20 drops is 1 ML. 100 drops is 1 teaspoon.
2. 1 teaspoon is 5 ML.
3. 3 teaspoons made 1 tablespoon 15ML.
4. 2 tablespoons make 30ML, which is 1 fluid ounce.
5. 1 coffeespoon 1/2 teaspoon which equals 2/5 ML.

The US and British measurements are slightly different.

Fluid ounces-oz.

1. USA fluid oz. is 29.573531 ML or 1/128 of a US gallon.
2. British fluid oz. is 28. 413963 ML or 1/160 of a British gallon.

Teaspoons

1. USA teaspoon = 4.93 ML (old and new)
2. British teaspoon = 5.91939 ML (Imperial British)
3. Old British = between 4.73ML to 5.867ML.

Tablespoons

1. 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon in all systems (old, new, USA, Britain,
International)
2. USA tablespoon + 14.798ML (old and modern)
3. British = 17.758ML (Imperial British)
4. British (traditional) = 14.2 to 17.6 which is 4/8 to 5/8 fluid oz.

Coffeespoons

1. 1/2 teaspoon (old, new, SI, etc.)

Drops

1 drop (USA?) 1/480 of a fluid oz. 15 to 17 drops = 1ML

Can anyone confirm what measurements were in use in the 1840s in Germany?
What did Hahnemann use for a drop, coffeespoon, teaspoon and tablespoon?
Today Germany is using the SI measurements. What did the use before this?
Any help in this manner would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, David Little

[Gaby Rottler]

Dear David,

[snip]
I can only repeat what I think I wrote to you a couple of years ago:

From Hahnemann's Apothekerlexikon, 1793:

1 Pfund (libra medica) = 12 Unzen
1 Unze (uncia) = 480 Gran.

1 glas = 4 Unzen
1 sip = 2 Unzen
1 table-spoon = 1/2 Unze = 240 Gran
1 tea-spoon = 30 Gran
1 drop = 1 Gran

1 gran is exactly 0.062 g (= 0.062 ml) (or should have been between 0,06
and 0,07 g).

So: the table-spoon is roughly 14,8 - 15 ml - as I always had mentioned.

Does that answer your question?

Best,

Gaby

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gaby Rottler
Germany
rottler@curantur.de

http://www.curantur.de
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~