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Swiss units of measurement

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A number of units of measurement were used in Switzerland to measure length, mass, etc. Metric system was optional in 1868, and has been compulsory since 1877.[1][2]

System before metric system

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Units were varied and were not in fixed values. During the transition to the metric system, units were fixed.[1] Before 1856, almost every canton had its own system of units.[3]

Length

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A number of units were used to measure length. One pied (1 fuss) was equal to 0.30 m, according to the fixed value defined during the transition to the metric system.[1][4] Some other units and their fixed values are given below:

1 ligne = 1/144 pied

1 linie = 1/144 pied

1 pouce = 1/12 pied

1 zoll = 1/12 pied

1 aune = 2 pied (or 4 pied[3])

1 elle = 2 pied

1 brache = 2 pied[3]

1 toise = 6 pied

1 ruthe = 6 pied

1 perche = 16 pied (or 10 pied[3])

1 lieue = 16 000 pied.[1][4] Lieue was used as a road measure.[3]

Area

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One arpent was 400 pied2 or 1.44 ha

Mass

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A number of units were used to measure mass.

Ordinary

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One livre (pfund of the Zollverein) was equal to 0.500 kg according to the fixed value defined during the transition to the metric system.[1][3][4] Some other units and their fixed values are given below:

1 loth = 1/32 livre[1][4]

1 once = 1/16 livre[1][4]

1 quintal = 100 livre.[3]

Medicine (apothecary or pharmacy)

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One livre was equal to 0.375 kg according to the fixed value defined during the transition to the metric system.[1][3][4] Some other units and their fixed values are given below:

1 grain = 1/5760 livre

1 scruple = 1/288 livre

1 drachme = 1/96 livre

1 once = 1/12 livre.[1][4]

Capacity

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Two main systems, dry and liquid, were used.

Dry

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Several units were used to measure dry capacity. Some units are given below:

1 quarteron (divided into 1/4 and 1/16) = 10 emine = 15 L (0.4257 bushel)

1 double quarteron = 2 quarteron

1 sac = 10 quarteron.[3]

Quarteron is the volume of 30 livre of pure water at 4 °C.[3] Quarteron was equal to 5/9 of a cubic pied.[3]

Liquid

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Several units were used to measure dry capacity. Some units are given below:

1 setier = 25 pot

1 muid = 4 setiers

1 pot = 1.5 L (1.585 quarts).[3] Pot was the bulk of 3 livres weight of pure water at the temperature of 4 °C. Pot was equal to 1/18 pied3 and was subdivided into 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. Vol. 1. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 12.
  2. ^ Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. pp. 72_73.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.