The end of the Seventh and Last Book of Paulus Ægineta.
Commentary. See, further, Galenus (De Pond. et Mens.); Cleopatra (De P. et M.); Celsus (v, 17); Pliny (H. N. xxi, 34); Rhemnus Fannius (De Pond. et Metr.); Marcellus Empiricus; Pollux (Onomast.); Hesychius et Suidas (pluries); Serapion (de Antid. vii, 37); Avicenna (v, 2, 8.) The best modern writers on the weights and measures of the ancients are, Arbuthnot (On Ancient Coins, Weights, and Measures); Milligan (Præfatio et Notæ in Celsum); Poucton (Métrologie); Raper (Philosoph. Transact. London, 1770, 1771); J. F. Wurm (De Pond. &c.); Conger (Weights, Measures, &c. of the Greeks and Romans.)
Since a proper knowledge of this subject is indispensably necessary, in order to attain a practical acquaintance with ancient pharmacy, we shall not scruple to avail ourselves freely of the information contained in the works of the modern authorities referred to above. It will be seen, that in the following sketch, we have followed Arbuthnot very closely; indeed, it is proper to mention, that when we originally wrote this, our concluding Commentary, we were not acquainted with the labours of Wurm and Conger. We now remark that, although the later authorities agree with Arbuthnot on general principles, they differ from him on a few points, as will be perceived upon a comparison of his tables with those of Conger. The discrepance between them, we find, arises from two causes, only one of which, it will be observed, is of any practical importance. First: Arbuthnot mixes the fractional with the decimal mode of computation, whilst Conger uses the decimal method alone. Second: They give different estimates of the length of the Pes. For example, Arbuthnot states the contents of the ligula to be ¹⁄₄₈ pint, and the decimals ·117⁵⁄₁₂ solid inch; whereas Conger rates it at the decimals ·62 pint, or the decimals ·69 solid inch. Now the 48th part of a pint equals the decimal ·6, which, when added to the former decimals ·117 solid inch, amounts to ·717: the difference between this number and ·69 is ·027, which being multiplied successively by the tabular values of the ligula, cyathus, acetabulum, &c., and the product divided by the number of solid inches in a pint, gives 12 pints, or 1 gal. 2 qts. as the difference between Arbuthnot’s and Conger’s contents of the amphora. By Arbuthnot’s table the contents of the amphora is 7 gal. 1 pint, 10·66 solid inches; by Conger’s, it is 5 gal. 2 qts. 1 pint, and the decimal ·64 of a pint. For example,
| gal. | qts. | pts. | sol. inch. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arbuthnot’s amphora | = | 7 | 0 | 1 | 10·66 |
| Conger’s ” | = | 5 | 2 | 1 | |
| Difference | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10·66 |
The Pes is the standard from which the contents of the amphora, and of the other names of weights and measures in the table are deduced; and, as our authorities assign slightly different estimates to the length of the pes, the other measures in the table are consequently affected by this difference in the assumed standard. Arbuthnot assumes the pes to be 11·604 inches, whereas Conger, with the later authorities, makes it to be ·97075 ft. or 11·649 inches. Now the amphora, being the cube of the pes, equals, according to Arbuthnot, 1562·5112 solid inches, whereas the cube of Conger’s pes makes the amphora to contain 1580·75 solid inches.
Having thus pointed out the source of the discrepance between the tables of Arbuthnot and the later authorities, we shall now proceed with our extracts, beginning with Dr. Milligan, who, although he can have no pretensions to be reckoned an original authority on the subject, has been particularly fortunate in giving from Targa and Arbuthnot, a very lucid exposition of the weights, measures, and characters, which occur in the works of Celsus.
Extracts from Dr. Milligan’s edition of Celsus.
Characterum in Celso obvenientium Tabula.
| P | = | Pondo: cum aliis notis junctum quasi pondere; Anglice, by weight, significat. |
| P., per se | = | 1 Libra. |
| 𐆖 | = | 1 Denarius. |
| 𐆐 non per se | = | 1 sextantem denominationis antecedentis signat. |
| 𐆐 per se | = | fere unius drachmæ sextantem. |
| 𐆐 𐆐 | = | 2 sextantis. |
| ⍪ | = | 1 sextantem. |
| — | = | ½ sextantis. |
| Z | = | 1 sextantem. |
| 8 | = | 1 sextantem. |