Peerless accuracy (or not)
==========================

* W. Sara

I presume "Old Dr. Jim" McGarry knew better than to prescribe his nux vomica according to the apothecary measures in Table 1 of the article by Ronald McGarry and Pamela McGarry.1

Even given the disclaimer that "values are approximate," the equation 1 minim = 65 mL misses the mark by a factor of 975 (approximately). As the name might suggest, a minim was the smallest unit of liquid measure and was commonly considered to be about one drop.

Peer review indeed. Our peers should have peered more diligently!

## Reference

1.  1. McGarry RC, McGarry P. Please pass the strychnine: the art of Victorian pharmacy. CMAJ 1999;161(12):1556-8.
    
    [FREE Full Text](http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiRlVMTCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NDoiY21haiI7czo1OiJyZXNpZCI7czoxMToiMTYxLzEyLzE1NTYiO3M6NDoiYXRvbSI7czoyMjoiL2NtYWovMTYyLzQvNDkyLjIuYXRvbSI7fXM6ODoiZnJhZ21lbnQiO3M6MDoiIjt9)