Technical Institute - Slemani Practice Lecture : 1

Pharmacy Department Pharmacy Stage : 2

Dispensing

 Metrology :It is the science of weight and measures which are used
In dispensing

 We have two general systems for dispensing :

1- Old apothecary‘s systems (English systems).

2- The classical Metric systems (French systems).

1- Old apothecary‘s systems:

 Unit for measuring weights :

Unit’s name Abbreviation Equivalent

1- Drachm (dr) 60 grains

2- Ounce (Oz) 8 dr.
3- Pound (lb) 16 oz.
4- Grain (gr)

Grain:- It is defined as the weight of wheat and it is equivalent to (0.06 gram).

 Unit for measuring liquids :

Unit’s name Abbreviation Equivalent

1-fluid drachm (fl.dr) 60 minims

2-fluid ounce (fl.Oz) 8 fl.dr.
3-pint (o) 16 fl.oz.
4-minim (m)

Minim: - It is defined as volume corresponding to 0.06 ml.

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Technical Institute - Slemani Practice Lecture : 1
Pharmacy Department Pharmacy Stage : 2

2- The classical Metric systems:

 Unit for measuring weights :

Unit’s name Abbreviation Equivalent

1- Milligram (mg) 1000 ug.

2- Gram (gm) 1000 mg.
3- Kilogram (kg) 1000 gm.

 Unit for measuring liquids :

Unit’s name Abbreviation Equivalent

1- Milliliter (ml) 1000 ul

2- Liter (L) 1000 ml

Conversion of English system to French system

Grain (gr) 0.06 (gm)

Drachm (dr) 4 (gm)

Ounce (0z) 30 (gm)

Minim (m) 0.06 (ml)

Fluid drachm (fl.dr) 4 (ml)

Fluid ounce (fl.0z) 30 (ml)

Pint (0) 500 (ml)

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Technical Institute - Slemani Practice Lecture : 1
Pharmacy Department Pharmacy Stage : 2

Conversion of French system to English system

Gram (gm) 15 (gr)

Kilogram (kg) 2,2 (lb)

Milliliter (ml) 15 (M) minim

Liter (L) 2 (o)

Household measure

One dessert spoonful 8 ml

One Tea spoonful 4 - 5 ml = 1 fl.dr

One Table spoonful 15 ml = ½ fl.0z

Coffee cupful 30 ml = 1 fl.0z

Tea cupful 120 ml = 4 fl.0z

Glassful 250 ml = 8 fl.0z

drop 0.05 ml

One coffee spoonful 10 ml

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Technical Institute - Slemani Practice Lecture : 1
Pharmacy Department Pharmacy Stage : 2

Latin number (Roman number)

I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX .

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

XL L LX LXX LXXX XC C D M
40 50 60 70 80 90 100 500 1000

 Some questions:

Q1// If one kg of dexamethasone powder used for production dexon tablet,

And each tablet contain 0.5 mg, how many tablets are produce?

1 kg = 1000 gm. and 1 gm. = 1000 mg.

1kg = 1000,000 mg and 1000,000/ 0.5 = 2000,000 tablets

Q2// A patient need 1.5 gm. of paracetamol and 2 gm. Of ampicillin daily.
Calculate this dose in milligram ?

1.5 gm. = 1.5 *1000 = 1500 mg. of paracetamol tablet.

2 gm. = 2 * 1000 = 2000 mg. of ampicillin capsule .

Q3// A child receive three fl.dr of Coldin syrup and one tea spoonful of Amoxicillin three times
daily calculate the total amount of drug given in metric system?

1 fl.dr.= 4ml 4 * 3 = 12 ml 12ml * 3 times daily = 36ml of coldin .

1 tea spoonful = 4ml 4 * 3 times daily = 12 ml of amoxicillin syrup.