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CMAJ
CMAJ - February 22, 2000JAMC - le 22 février 2000

Peerless accuracy (or not)

CMAJ 2000;162:492

See response from: R.C. McGarry
I presume "Old Dr. Jim" McGarry knew better than to prescribe his nux vomica according to the apothecary measures in Table 1 of the article by Ronald McGarry and Pamela McGarry [full article].1

Even given the disclaimer that "values are approximate," the equation 1 minim = 65 mL misses the mark by a factor of 975 (approximately). As the name might suggest, a minim was the smallest unit of liquid measure and was commonly considered to be about one drop.

Peer review indeed. Our peers should have peered more diligently!

W. Sara
Family physician
Crowsnest Pass, Alta.

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Reference

  1. McGarry RC, McGarry P. Please pass the strychnine: the art of Victorian pharmacy. CMAJ 1999;161(12):1556-8.

© 2000 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors