The scales of weights and measures used in ancient days differed in different parts of the country. Separate scales are described by modern compilers, under the names of Mάgadhi, Kάlinga, Chάraka, Sausruta, etc. The number of gunjάs making a tola varies in these scales from forty to ninety-six. The scale of weights and measures in ordinary use in Bengal, at the present day, has the gunja (seed of Abrus precatorius) for its lowest weight. The gunjά, however, is divided into fractional parts by other seeds, thus eighteen mustard seeds, four grains of paddy, three grains of barley and two grains of wheat are respectively said to be equal to one gunjά

This scale is as follows:-

6 Gunjάs make one and.

12 Gunjάs make one masha

8 Mάshάs or 16 άnάs make one tolά

8 Tolάs make one pala

8 Palas or 64 tolάs make one seer

2 Seers make one prastha

8 Seers make one άdhaka

32 ,Seers make one drona

100 Palas or 124 1/2 seers make one Tulά

In the scale above described ninety-six gunjάs make one tola. It would seem, however, that in ancient days Susruta's scale of forty gunjάs to a tola was in general use, for the doses of powders, confections, decoctions, etc. given in the older works, are considered monstrous for the present age, and much smaller doses are given in practice. Orthodox physicians explain the large doses by saying that they were intended for a superior race of men of ancient days. The subject is involved in much obscurity and this is scarcely the place to discuss it thoroughly. In giving the doses of medicines described in this work, I will state the quantities now prescribed by native physicians in current weights, hence they will differ from the Sanskrit texts from which the prescriptions will be translated.

There is a peculiarity in fluid measures which must also be noticed in order to prevent misapprehension of the Sanskrit texts. When a fluid article is ordered in measures of a prastha or two seers and upwards, twice the quantity mentioned should be taken. Thus if in a preparation it is stated, take of solid paste of certain substances one seer, oil two seers, and water eight seers, the quantities actually taken are solid paste one seer, oil four seers and water sixteen seers. In measures below two seers or in those indicated by pala such as eighty palas, sixty palas etc, the quantities are not doubled.

The doses of medicines are not fixed. They are regulated by the age, strength, and digestive power of the patient, the nature of the illness, the state of the viscera and humours, and lastly by the properties of individual drugs.

Supposing the full dose of a medicine for adults to be two tolas, the doses for children of different ages would be as follows: -For infants a month old, one gunjά, and an additional gunjά for each additional month. For children a year old, the dose would be one mdsha or twelve gunjάs, and an additional maslta for every year, till the full dose of sixteen mάshάs or two tolas is reached at the sixteenth year. From sixteen to seventy the full dose should be used, after which it should be again gradually reduced. When infants are unable to take decoctions and other bulky medicines, their nurses are made to take them. Sometimes small quantities of medicines are applied to the nipples, and the infants made to suck them.

Medicines may be administered during four periods of the day, namely, sunrise, mid-day, evening and night. Sometimes they are administered frequently. Morning is regarded as the best time for administering such medicines as purgatives, emetics, decoctions and pills which are generally given once daily. When no specific direction is given regarding the time of administration, morning must be taken for granted. Very often one sort of medicine is given in the morning and another in the afternoon. Some medicines for dyspepsia are given before, along with, and after meals.