Pharmaceuticals were never metricated in the sense that there was a
discrete transition from apothecary to metric according to a
coordinated plan. Generally, older drugs such as thyroid extract,
phenobarbital, acetaminophen (Tylenol) and aspirin, were manufactured
in doses of grains. I need to find out just when and why, but later,
greater precision was preferred in dosing, and the metric system was
used, and much prior to 1972. Just curious: do you remember which
medication was ordered in the movie?
Quoting "c...@traditio.com" <c...@traditio.com>:
Paul (Trusten) -- In watching a 1972 movie on television the other
night, I noticed that a hospital physician ordered a medication in
grains. That reminded me that I had never heard an explanation
about how it came about that the medicinal area became almost
completely metricated at some period after that.
I don't ever recall hearing the story about how this happened. I
have heard about the conversion of wine bottles, but I don't recall
that we have ever had an article in Metric Today about the medicinal
conversion.
If anyone would know the story, Paul, you would! Could you give a
brief explanation for this USMA list and consider writing a more
extensive article for Metric Today? --Martin Morrison
Paul R. Trusten
Registered Pharmacist
Vice President and Public Relations Director
U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc.
www.metric.org
Midland, Texas USA
+1(432)528-7724
mailto:trus...@grandecom.net
