Scruple (unit of measure)

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Etruscan scrupel silver coin from the third century BC with a
(residual) weight of 0.92 grams

The scruple (from Latin scrupulus ) or the scrupel (from Latin scrupulum ) is a non- SI-compliant unit of measurement , including 1.2 to 1.3 grams or 0.18 to 0.19 millimeters. The Latin word meaning “(pointed) stone” (also “small pebble” and “smallest part of a weight or mass”) is derived from a diminutive of Latin scrūpus , rough rock; sharp pointed stone ', from which the meaning "conscience concerns" in the sense of "accuracy, which is as fearful as walking over sharp stones" comes.

The scruple (Latin scrupulus ) was one of the smallest common units of measurement for the mass in ancient Rome , but has also been transferred as a unit of measurement to other quantities . Later the unit was used as a pharmacist's weight and with the unit symbol ℈ or s.ap. (for scrupulus apothecarius ) abbreviated.

Weight measure

General

As a unit of mass of the Roman was unscrupulous ( troy scruple , s.tr.) 1/24 of an ounce ( troy ounce , oz.tr.), that is 1/288 of a pound ( troy pound , lb.tr.), which in corresponds to about 1.2 grams (or a third of a quench ). However, the value of the units was slightly different in different regions and over time. The division into 20 grains (20 grains of wheat accordingly) was first made for pharmacy by Nicolaus Salernitus in the Nicolai Antidotarium in the 12th century.

  • 1 scruple (see above) = 20 grains (large)
  • 1 scruple (s.tr.) = 24 grains (gr.)
  • 1 pound (lb.tr.) = 12 ounces (oz.tr.) = 96 dram (dr.ap.) = 288 scrupels (s.ap.) = 5760 gran (gr.)

Kingdom of Bavaria

Historically, the Nuremberg pharmacist pound was 357.84 grams. The Kingdom of Bavaria rounded this to 360 grams under Montgelas in 1811.

unit historical Reform value
lb 12 ounces ≈ 357.84 g 360 g
ounce 8 drachmas ≈ 029.82 g 030 g
drachma 3 scruples ≈ 003.7275 g 003.75 g
Scruples 20 grains ≈ 001.2425 g 001.25 g
Gran ≈ 0062.125 mg 062.5 mg

See also: Old weights and measures (Bavaria)

Belgium

  • 1 drachma = 3 scruples ≈ 3.9 grams
  • 1 scruple = 20 grains ≈ 1.30 grams
  • 1 grain ≈ 0.062 grams
  • Conclusion 1 gram ≈ 15.3 grains

Denmark

  • 1 drachma = 3 scruples ≈ 3.726 grams
  • 1 scruple = 20 grains ≈ 1.242 grams
  • 1 grain ≈ 0.0621 grams

England

  • 1 drachma = 3 scruples ≈ 3.87 grams
  • 1 scruple = 20 grains ≈ 1.291 grams
  • 1 grain ≈ 0.064 grams
  • Conclusion 1 gram ≈ 15.43 grains

Medical weight

Scruples were also a part of the regional medical weight, which weighed 20 grains. The Aß (Dutch) can be calculated at 0.048 grams.

  • Italy : 1 scrupolo = 24 grani
  • Basel : 1 scrupel = 23 7/12 Aß (Dutch)
  • Berlin : 1 scrupel = 25 ⅓ Aß (Dutch)
  • Bologna : 1 scrupel = 24 5/12 Aces (Dutch)
  • Milan : 1 scrupel = 30 ⅛ Aß (Dutch)
  • Nuremberg : 1 scrupel = 28 ⅔ Aß (Dutch)
  • Solothurn : 1 scrupel = 23 ⅜ Aß (Dutch)
  • Turin : 1 scrupel = 22 2/9 ate (Dutch)
  • Vienna : 1 scrupel = 30 ⅓ Aß (Dutch)
  • Württemberg : 1 scrupel = 1.24178368 grams

Unit of length

Prussia

  • 1 rod = 12 feet = 144 inches = 1728 lines = 20,736 scruples / point ≈ 3.7662 m
  • 1 foot = 12 inches = 144 lines = 1728 scruples = 139.13 Parisian lines (definition as a standard in Prussia ) ≈ 0.31385 meters
  • 1 inch = 12 lines = 144 scruples ≈ 27.07 millimeters
  • 1 line = 12 scruples ≈ 2.256 millimeters
  • 1 scrupel ≈ 0.1816 millimeters

France

Derived from the Toise, old French measure of length

  • 1 Toise du Pérou = 6 feet = 72 inches = 864 lines = 10,368 points or scruples ≈ 1.9490363 meters
  • 1 inch = 12 lines = 144 points or scruples ≈ 27.07 millimeters
  • 1 (Paris) line = 12 points or scruples ≈ 2.256 millimeters
  • 1 point or scruple ≈ 0.188 millimeters

Time and space

As a unit of area, it was 1/288 of a yoke .

As a unit of measurement of time , a scruple was 1/24 of an hour , i.e. 150 seconds.

See also

literature

  • Royal Württemb. Central office for trade and commerce (ed.): The dimensions and weights of Württemberg versus the metrics of the German Empire . Publishing house of JB Metzler'schen Buchhandlung, Stuttgart 1871.

Web links

Wiktionary: scruples  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Swiss Confederation (Ed.): Federal Gazette, Volume 4 . 1852 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
  2. ^ Friedrich Kluge , Alfred Götze : Etymological dictionary of the German language . 20th ed., Ed. by Walther Mitzka , De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1967; Reprint (“21st unchanged edition”) ibid 1975, ISBN 3-11-005709-3 , p. 712 (scruples) .
  3. ↑ Richardson CF, Peabody SH: The International Cyclopedia: a compendium of human knowledge . tape 13 . Dodd, Mead & company, 1898, pp. 278 .
  4. ↑ Cicero , Att. 4, 16, 13; Vitruvius 7, 8; Columella 12, 28, 1.
  5. ↑ Günther Jaeschke: Anna von Diesbach's Bernese 'Pharmacopoeia' in the Erlacher version of Daniel von Werdts (1658), Part I: Text. Königshausen & Neumann, Würzburg 1978 (= Würzburg medical-historical research. Volume 16), p. 106, no. 359 (“Scrupulus is a third of a quintlin”).
  6. ↑ Maximus von Imhof: Beginnings of Chemistry: for use in public lectures at the Electoral Academy of Sciences . Lentner, 1803, p. 213 ff . ( limited preview in Google Book search).
  7. ↑ Dietlinde Goltz: Medieval pharmacy and medicine. Depicted on the history and content of the Antidotarium Nicolai. With a reprint of the print version from 1471. Wiss. Verl. Ges., Stuttgart 1976, p. 58 f.
  8. ↑ Heinrich Schwager: The new measure and weight order for the Kingdom of Bavaria. Julius Kellner, Würzburg / Neustadt / Saale 1870, p. 58.
  9. ↑ The order of measure and weight: Law of April 29, 1869, execution instructions of August 13, 1869. Verlag Stahel'sche Buch- und Kunsthandlung, Würzburg 1870, p. 12.
  10. ^ A b c Otto Oskar Albert Ziurek: Elementary manual of pharmacy with consideration of all German pharmacopoeias and medical regulations. Ferdinand Enke, Erlangen 1859, p. 97.
  11. ^ Brockhaus Picture Conversation Lexicon. Volume 4, Leipzig 1841, p. 145.
  12. ↑ The measurements and weights of Württemberg versus the metrics of the German Empire.
  13. ^ Carl Wilhelm Ernst: Handbook of the art of distillation for manufacturers of spirits. C. Grobe, Berlin 1855, p. 251.
  14. ↑ Cornelia Meyer-Stoll: The mass and weight reforms in Germany in the 19th century with special consideration of the role of Carl August Steinheil and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. CH Beck, Munich 2010, ISBN 978-3-7696-0124-4 , p. 251.
  15. ↑ Marcus Terentius Varro R. 1, 10, 2; Columella 5, 1, 8.
  16. ↑ Joseph Claudel: The bricklaying trade in its full scope theoretically and practically treated . B. F. Voigt, 1860, p. 280 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
  17. ^ Marcus Aurelius , Fronto . Caes. 2, 9