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The 'apothecaries' system of mass' is an obsolete system formerly used by apothecaries (now called pharmacists or chemists) in English-speaking countries. The system is related to the English avoirdupois and troy systems, as they use the same mass for a grain. Sometimes "ap" is added to the front of the unit to identify it as part of the apothecaries' system (the abbreviation for ''avoirdupois'' is "av"). Similar systems had been in use in other European countries.
During the first half of the 20th century, the apothecaries' system was replaced by the metric system. In the United States, it is still occasionally used, for example with prescribed medicine being sold in six ounce ( vi) bottles.

Unit	Symbol	Division	Grains	Grams
Pound	lb	12 ounces	5760	373.241 72
Ounce		8 drams	480	31.103 477
Dram		3 scruples	60	3.887 9346
Scruple		20 grains	20	1.295 9782
Grain	G		1	0.064 79891

After the introduction of the imperial gallon (1824), some English apothecaries started using a system of volume that was closely related to the system of mass, taking advantage of the approximate equivalence of weight and volume of water and similar fluids with equal-named units.
It was abolished effective 1 January, 1971 after falling out of use.

Unit	Symbol	Division	Minims	Millilitres
Gallon	gal.	8 pints	76800	4,546.09
Pint	pt.	20 ounces	9600	568.261
Ounce	oz.	8 drachms	480	28.413
Drachm	dr.	3 scruples	60	3.551 633
Scruple	sc.	20 minims	20	1.183 878
Minim	min.		1	0.059 194

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★ Apothecaries' symbols