Apothecary's balance, Europe, 1901-1930
A balance is used to measure out ingredients for medical treatments. Accurately measuring out ingredients is vital to ensure the patient takes the correct dosage. Placing weights of known heaviness on one brass pan allowed ingredients to be measured accurately in the other. When the pans are balanced the lead indicator hangs straight. The balance would have been used by a pharmacist or chemist.
Object number:
A602074
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: beamscale
Scales with a horizontal bar pivoting about a central fulcrum, creating equal-length arms; suspended from the ends of the arms are pans or baskets, in one of which is placed the item being weighed and in the other, a premeasured weight.
Glossary: pharmacy
The preparation and medicinal dispensing of drugs.