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The minim was introduced in the 1809 edition of ''The Pharmacopœia of the Royal College of Physicians of London'' as a replacement for the [[drop (unit)|drop]], which had previously been the smallest unit of the [[apothecaries' system]].<ref name="LondonPowell1809">{{cite book|author1=Royal College of Physicians of London|author2=Richard Powell|title=The pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians of London, M. DCCC. IX|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCPrAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA7<!--|accessdate=18 December 2011-->|year=1809|publisher=Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme|pages=6–7}}</ref> It was observed that the size of a drop can vary considerably depending upon the [[viscosity]] and [[specific gravity]] of the liquid. (At the time, the phenomenon of surface tension was not well understood.) The minim, on the other hand, was measured with a graduated glass tube known as a "minimometer",<ref name="Britain_1814">{{cite book|author=Philological Society (Great Britain)|title=The European magazine, and London review|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lyEYAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA123<!--|accessdate=18 December 2011-->|year=1814|publisher=Philological Society of London|page=123}}</ref> later known as the minim-tube.<ref name="Weeks-Shaw1808">{{cite book|author=Clara S. Weeks-Shaw|title=A text-book of nursing: for the use of training schools, families, and private students|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vBttAAAAMAAJ&dq=minim-tube&pg=PA107<!--|accessdate=18 December 2011-->|year=1808|publisher=D. Appleton|page=107}}</ref> The minim-tube was a type of graduated [[pipette]], a device invented in 1791 by [[François-Antoine-Henri Descroizilles]]. |
The minim was introduced in the 1809 edition of ''The Pharmacopœia of the Royal College of Physicians of London'' as a replacement for the [[drop (unit)|drop]], which had previously been the smallest unit of the [[apothecaries' system]].<ref name="LondonPowell1809">{{cite book|author1=Royal College of Physicians of London|author2=Richard Powell|title=The pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians of London, M. DCCC. IX|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCPrAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA7<!--|accessdate=18 December 2011-->|year=1809|publisher=Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme|pages=6–7}}</ref> It was observed that the size of a drop can vary considerably depending upon the [[viscosity]] and [[specific gravity]] of the liquid. (At the time, the phenomenon of surface tension was not well understood.) The minim, on the other hand, was measured with a graduated glass tube known as a "minimometer",<ref name="Britain_1814">{{cite book|author=Philological Society (Great Britain)|title=The European magazine, and London review|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lyEYAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA123<!--|accessdate=18 December 2011-->|year=1814|publisher=Philological Society of London|page=123}}</ref> later known as the minim-tube.<ref name="Weeks-Shaw1808">{{cite book|author=Clara S. Weeks-Shaw|title=A text-book of nursing: for the use of training schools, families, and private students|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vBttAAAAMAAJ&dq=minim-tube&pg=PA107<!--|accessdate=18 December 2011-->|year=1808|publisher=D. Appleton|page=107}}</ref> The minim-tube was a type of graduated [[pipette]], a device invented in 1791 by [[François-Antoine-Henri Descroizilles]]. |
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Apothecaries' measures are fully defined in the United Kingdom's Weights and Measures Act |
Apothecaries' measures are fully defined in the United Kingdom's [[Weights and Measures Act 1878]], but the UK's [[Weights and Measures Act 1963]] provided for the abolition of the minim, [[fluid scruple]], and fluid drachm, all already obsolete. Actual delegalization occurred on 1 February 1971. |
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The use of the minim, along with other such measures, has been reduced by the adoption of the [[metric system]], and even in the least [[metrication|metricated]] countries, pharmacy is largely metricated and the [[apothecaries' system]] is deprecated. The unit may rarely persist in some countries in the measurement of dosages of medicine. |
The use of the minim, along with other such measures, has been reduced by the adoption of the [[metric system]], and even in the least [[metrication|metricated]] countries, pharmacy is largely metricated and the [[apothecaries' system]] is deprecated. The unit may rarely persist in some countries in the measurement of dosages of medicine. |
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|<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>480</sub> imperial fluid ounce |
|<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>480</sub> imperial fluid ounce |
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|<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>480</sub> US fluid ounce |
|<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>480</sub> US fluid ounce |
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|<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>60</sub> imperial fluid drachm |
|<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>60</sub> imperial fluid drachm |
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|<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>60</sub> US fluid dram |
|<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>60</sub> US fluid dram |
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|59.1938802083 microlitres (exactly) |
|{{val|59.1938802083}} microlitres (exactly) |
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|{{val|61.611519921875}} microlitres (exactly) |
|{{val|61.611519921875}} microlitres (exactly) |
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|≃ 0.0036122322 cubic inches<ref name="inim">This assumes the international inch of exactly 25.4 millimetres.</ref> |
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|0.003759765625 cubic inches (exactly)<ref name="inus">This assumes the international inch of exactly 25.4 millimetres. The US gallon of 231 cubic inches is the same as the English [[Wine gallon]].</ref> |
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|≃ 0.002001583 US fluid ounce |
|≃ 0.002001583 US fluid ounce |
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0.003759765625 cubic inches (exactly) |
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|0.960759940 US fluid minims |
|0.960759940 US fluid minims |
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Latest revision as of 22:14, 25 June 2024
Look up minim in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
The minim (abbreviated min, ♏︎ or ♍︎) is a unit of volume in both the imperial and U.S. customary systems of measurement. Specifically it is 1⁄60 of a fluid drachm[1] or 1⁄480 of a fluid ounce.[2][3]
The minim was introduced in the 1809 edition of The Pharmacopœia of the Royal College of Physicians of London as a replacement for the drop, which had previously been the smallest unit of the apothecaries' system.[4] It was observed that the size of a drop can vary considerably depending upon the viscosity and specific gravity of the liquid. (At the time, the phenomenon of surface tension was not well understood.) The minim, on the other hand, was measured with a graduated glass tube known as a "minimometer",[5] later known as the minim-tube.[6] The minim-tube was a type of graduated pipette, a device invented in 1791 by François-Antoine-Henri Descroizilles.
Apothecaries' measures are fully defined in the United Kingdom's Weights and Measures Act 1878, but the UK's Weights and Measures Act 1963 provided for the abolition of the minim, fluid scruple, and fluid drachm, all already obsolete. Actual delegalization occurred on 1 February 1971.
The use of the minim, along with other such measures, has been reduced by the adoption of the metric system, and even in the least metricated countries, pharmacy is largely metricated and the apothecaries' system is deprecated. The unit may rarely persist in some countries in the measurement of dosages of medicine.
Definitions[edit]
| Imperial minim | US customary minim |
| 1⁄480 imperial fluid ounce | 1⁄480 US fluid ounce |
| 1⁄80 US teaspoon | |
| 1⁄60 imperial fluid drachm | 1⁄60 US fluid dram |
| 59.1938802083 microlitres (exactly) | 61.611519921875 microlitres (exactly) |
| ≃ 0.0036122322 cubic inches[7] | 0.003759765625 cubic inches (exactly)[8] |
| ≃ 0.002001583 US fluid ounce | ≃ 0.002168422 imperial fluid ounce |
| 0.960759940 US fluid minims | 1.040842731 imperial minims |
References and notes[edit]
- ^ also spelled fluidram or fluid dram
- ^ CIA World Factbook
- ^ Robert Thomas (médecin) (1819). The modern practice of physic, exhibiting the ... symptoms, prognostics, morbid appearances and improved method of treating the diseases of all climates... Longman. p. xv.
- ^ Royal College of Physicians of London; Richard Powell (1809). The pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians of London, M. DCCC. IX. Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme. pp. 6–7.
- ^ Philological Society (Great Britain) (1814). The European magazine, and London review. Philological Society of London. p. 123.
- ^ Clara S. Weeks-Shaw (1808). A text-book of nursing: for the use of training schools, families, and private students. D. Appleton. p. 107.
- ^ This assumes the international inch of exactly 25.4 millimetres.
- ^ This assumes the international inch of exactly 25.4 millimetres. The US gallon of 231 cubic inches is the same as the English Wine gallon.