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The Decimal System,

Adopted in France and on the Continent, is used in this country in scientific research. The standard of length is the metre (10,000,000 of a quadrant of the earth's meridian), which is equal (as corrected by Prof. Bache) to 39-36850535 inches, or, roughly, about 3 feet. This, as well as the measures of capacity and weight, is increased or divided decimally. The prefixes are deca (10 times), hecto (100 times), kilo (1000 times), and myria (10,000 times); deci (ro), centi (τόσ), mille (1000). The kilometre is equal to about two-thirds of a mile.

The cubic decimetre is the unit of capacity, and is called a litre, and is equal to 1.765 imperial pints, or 2-1135 wine pints (the latter are used in the United States). The weight of 1 litre of water, at 39-10°, is called a kilogramme, and that of a millilitre of water a gramme = 15.434 grains.

The kilogramme is rather less than 21 lbs. avoirdupois. The metrical pound of France is half a kilogramme. One fluidounce equals in capacity 29.53 cubic centimetres.

Comparative Table of Decimal with Avoirdupois and Apothecaries' (U. S.) Weights. Name.

Equivalent in Grammes.

Grains.

Equivalent in Avoirdupois.

Equivalent in Apothecaries' Weight, (U. S. P.) lb.

OZ. gr. lb. oz. dr. gr.

Milligramme Centigramme = ... -001 0154 01 ... 1543 Decigramme = ... 1 1-5434 1.5 Gramme 1. ... 15-4340 15-4 Decagramme Hectogramme = Kilogramme* 1,000- Myriagramme= 10,000- * Abbreviated kilo.

Comparison of Decimal Measures of Capacity with Wine (U. S. P.) and Imperial Measures.

Wine Measure.

Eng. Cubic Inches. Apothecaries' or Wine = Millilitre Centilitre = Decilitre Litre = = Measure. 061028-16-2318 minims. •610280 = 2-7053 fluidrachms. 6-102800 = 3-3816 fluidounces. 61-028000= 2-1135 pints.

Decalitre = 610-280000 = 2.6419 gallons.

Hectolitre = 6102-800000 Kilolitre = 61028-000000 Imperial Measure. 1 litre = 0.22017 galls., 0.88066 qts., 1.76133 pts. Stere (cubic metre) = 220-16643 galls.