An apothecary or medical weight is a unit of mass measurement that was widely used in medical and chemical laboratories in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was developed and put into use by Nuremberg pharmacists and chemists.
At a time when medicine and chemistry were just beginning to develop, scales were one of the main tools for measuring the mass and volume of substances. Pharmacy scales were very accurate and reliable, allowed to measure mass with high accuracy and had various modifications for different tasks. They were made of metal and often decorated with engraving and inlay.
The apothecary's weight was replaced by the metric system in the 18th century, but its legacy can still be seen in pharmacies and chemical laboratories around the world. Today, the pharmacy scale is a symbol of the accuracy and reliability of mass measurement in the past.
Pharmacy or apothecary weight is one of the most important characteristics in pharmacy. It is a measure of drug volume that is used to measure the amount of drug needed to prepare a drug or treat a patient.
The history of pharmacology says that even in ancient times the definition of mass was known as a unit of measurement for the size of a drug dosage. In Ancient Egypt, Babylon and China, the first units of volume measurement already existed, which were used for medicinal purposes, such as “ka”, “pictol”, “ounce” and others.
However, it was only in the 11th century that an original system for measuring the volume or weight of medicines appeared - the pharmacist. This system consisted of a set of glass vessels of various capacities with a special substance, which was used as a volume standard. It was called "pharmacist's ointment" and was used to determine the dose of drugs.
Subsequently, scientists developed more accurate methods for determining the volume and mass of a drug. Among them there is a well-known unit of measurement - a pharmaceutical measuring stick, which is a glass vessel with a certain capacity and allows you to measure the weight of drugs with high accuracy.
Modern pharmacy weight is an important element of medical science and practice. This helps pharmacists and doctors determine the correct dosage and dosage for patients. For patients, this makes it possible to receive more effective treatment and avoid side effects.
Today, pharmacy scales are an integral part of medical laboratories, pharmacies and clinics. Many countries have their own standards and requirements for the accuracy of pharmacy scales, so it is important to choose a scale that meets these standards and ensures accurate measurements.