An obsolete system of
fluid measure used by unfortunate
pharmacists of an earlier, quainter time. Like the
Apothecaries' weight, it has widely been supplanted by
metric units of measure; even in the
United States, which tends to be rather
reactionary in these matters. The units:
60 minims = 1 fluid dram
8 fluid drams = 1 fluid ounce
16 fluid ounces = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart
4 quarts = 1 gallon
Apothecaries' fluid measure is, however, somewhat less confusing than Apothecaries' weight, since the larger units (pint, quart, etc.) are equivalent to those used in the "standard" English system.