# Scruples to Dekagrams (s ap to dag)

Source: https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/weight/scruples-to-dekagrams/

**1 s ap = 0.12959782 dag**

One scruple equals approximately 0.1296 dekagrams, meaning roughly 7.7 scruples make one dekagram. The scruple's 1.296 grams sit just below the dekagram's 10-gram threshold, placing the scruple at about one-eighth of a dekagram. This conversion bridges the apothecary world with Central European commercial measurement.

## Formula

Apply the conversion factor

## Conversion Table

| Scruples (s ap) | Dekagrams (dag) |
|---|---|
| 1 s ap | 0.12959782 dag |
| 3 s ap | 0.38879346 dag |
| 5 s ap | 0.6479891 dag |
| 10 s ap | 1.2959782 dag |
| 20 s ap | 2.5919564 dag |
| 24 s ap | 3.11034768 dag |
| 50 s ap | 6.479891 dag |
| 100 s ap | 12.959782 dag |
| 200 s ap | 25.919564 dag |
| 288 s ap | 37.32417216 dag |
| 500 s ap | 64.79891 dag |
| 1000 s ap | 129.59782 dag |
| 5000 s ap | 647.9891 dag |
| 10000 s ap | 1295.9782 dag |

## Units

### Scruple (s ap)

An apothecary scruple equals 20 grains or 1/3 of a dram apothecary (1.2959782 grams). A historical pharmaceutical unit largely replaced by metric measurements.

### Dekagram (dag)

A dekagram (also decagram) is 10 grams. While rarely used in most countries, it is the standard unit for buying food at delicatessens in Austria, where it is called 'Deka'.

## Background

Austrian and Czech pharmacists during the 19th-century metrication would have encountered both scruples in older formularies and dekagrams on their newer metric scales. A prescription calling for one scruple could be approximated as 'a bit over a tenth of a Deka' by a pharmacist trained in both systems. This practical bilingualism characterized pharmacy during the decades-long transition period.

## Good to Know

The scruple-dekagram conversion sits at the intersection of two distinctly Central European traditions: the university-trained apothecary measuring in scruples and the market-savvy Viennese shopkeeper thinking in Deka. During metrication, these two worlds collided in the pharmacy, where the precision of apothecary weights had to be translated into the commercial metric vocabulary that customers and suppliers already used daily.

## FAQ

### How many dekagrams are in one scruple?

One scruple equals approximately 0.1296 dekagrams. Roughly 7.7 scruples make one dekagram, since the scruple weighs 1.296 grams and the dekagram weighs 10 grams.

### Why would this conversion matter historically?

In Central Europe, where the dekagram was an everyday unit, pharmacists transitioning from apothecary weights needed to express scruple-based formulations in dekagram-compatible terms. This was particularly relevant in Austria, where the Deka was already embedded in commercial culture.

### How do I convert scruples to dekagrams?

Multiply scruples by 0.1296. For example, 10 scruples equals about 1.296 dekagrams. For quick estimation, divide scruples by 8 for an approximate dekagram value.

## Non-Frequently Asked Questions

### If I walk into an Austrian apothecary and ask for a scruple, what happens?

In a modern Austrian pharmacy (Apotheke), the pharmacist would politely explain that they dispense medications in milligrams and grams, not scruples. In a 19th-century Austrian pharmacy, the pharmacist might have weighed out approximately 0.13 Deka of the requested substance, muttering about unnecessary unit complexity while doing so.

### Is the scruple smaller or larger than the dekagram's usual use case?

Much smaller. The dekagram measures deli meat and cheese portions (typically 10-50 Deka at a time), while the scruple measured individual drug doses. Asking for '0.13 Deka of laudanum' would be the pharmaceutical equivalent of ordering a teaspoon of prosciutto: technically possible but deeply unusual for the context.

### Could I order medicine by the Deka at a Viennese pharmacy?

You could try, though the pharmacist would convert your request to milligrams before dispensing anything. Asking for '2 Deka of aspirin' (20 grams) would get you about 100 standard 200mg tablets, which is a reasonable quantity. The pharmacist would humor the unusual unit choice but quietly judge your measurement system preferences.

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## See Also

- [Dekagrams to Scruples](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/weight/dekagrams-to-scruples/)