not changed too much by the reform. Even so, the modern U.K. fluid ounce is 4% less than the US fluid ounce, and the same is true for the smaller units. For some years both systems were used concurrently in the U.K. There were also commonly used, but unofficial divisions of the Apothecaries' system, consisting of: Glass-tumbler 8 fl. oz. Breakfast-cup about 8 fl. oz. Tea-cup 5 fl. oz. Wine-glass 2 fl. oz. Table-spoon fl. oz. Dessert-spoon 2 fl. dr. (same as fl. oz.) Tea-spoon 1 fl. dr. (same as fl. oz.) In the United States, similar measures in use were once Tumblerful — ƒ℥ viii (8 fl oz/ 1 cup/ 240 mL) Teacupful — ƒ℥ iv (4 fl oz/ 1 gill/ 120 mL) Wineglassful — ƒ℥ ij (2 fl oz/ 60 mL) Tablespoonful — ƒ℥ ss ( fl oz/ 3 tsp/ 1 Tbsp; 15 mL as once codified in the ) Dessertspoonful — ƒʒ ij (≡ ƒ℈ viij or ƒʒ/ 2 tsp; 10 mL as once codified in the U.S.P. IX) Teaspoonful — ƒʒ j (≡ ƒ℈ iv or ƒʒ/ 1 tsp; 5 mL as once codified in the U.S.P. IX) The cited book states, "In almost all cases the modern teacups, tablespoons, dessertspoons, and teaspoons, after careful test by the author, were found to average 25 percent greater capacity than the theoretical quantities given above, and thus the use of accurately graduated medicine glasses, which may be had now at a trifling cost, should be insisted upon." Apothecaries' measures eventually fell out of use in the U.K. and were officially abolished in 1971. In the U.S., they are still occasionally used, for example with prescribed medicine being sold in four-ounce (℥ iv) bottles. Medical prescriptions Until around 1900, medical prescriptions and most European pharmacopoeias were written in Latin. Here is a typical example from the middle of the 19th century. The use of Latin ensured that the prescriptions could be read by an international audience. There was a technical reason why 3 ʒ was written ʒiij, and ʒ as ʒss: Writing iii as iij would prevent tampering with or misinterpretation of a number after it is written. The letters "ss" are an abbreviation for the Latin "semis" meaning "half", which were sometimes written with a ß. In Apothecaries' Latin, numbers were generally written in Roman numerals, immediately following the symbol. Since only the units of the apothecaries' system