$Unique_ID{BRK01673}
$Pretitle{Community and Social Problems}
$Title{Why the Metric System is Used for Medication Doses?}
$Subject{weight measurements metric}
$Volume{Q}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Why the Metric System is Used for Medication Doses?


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QUESTION:  Since in the U.S.A. we buy and prepare food in terms of pounds and
ounces, why do you insist on using grams and other terms that the majority of
us don't understand?  In this mornings paper you stated that the recommended
daily intake of fiber is 20 to 35 grams.  How much is that in terms we
understand?

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ANSWER:  Most of the scientific literature written today uses the metric
system for it provides a logical and sensitive system that responds well to
the needs of the world's research community.  Those same reasons make it very
practical for all of us, if we would but take the time to understand it.  The
system is calculated on the number "10" and its multiples and makes
calculations quite easy.  There are 100 centimeters in a meter, and a 1000
meters in a kilometer (about .6 of a mile).  To calculate the number of
centimeters in a mile, you just multiple 100 times 1000, for an answer of
100,000.  Now try to figure out the number of inches there are in a mile.  You
can immediately see the enormous difference in the mathematics, and all the
chances there are for errors to creep in.
     The second important reason for using the metric system rather than the
"avoirdupois" (or English system), is that it provides smaller units that are
easy to use.  For example there are 28.35 grams in an ounce (about the amount
of fiber you need in your daily diet).  It is a lot easier to use a measure of
1 gram, than to try and manipulate "1/28.35 ounces". When you realize that
many medication doses are in milligrams (1/1000 part of a gram), it is easy to
understand why the metric system has found favor with scientists.
     However, there are more countries that use the metric system for everyday
measures, than those that use the English System.  There has been much
discussion about converting our country to the same system, although it still
has some way to go before it is established.  You might wish to check your own
home dictionary, since many contain conversion tables that are helpful in
changing metric units to those you understand a bit better.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
